GRS 1000
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL HIKK 011 | 12
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
DESKBY 1212OOZ
13 JUN1985
FM HONG KONG 1211112 JUN 85 CORRECTED VERSION
TO IMMEDIATE F C O
INDE
TELEGRAM NUMBER 1149 OF 12 JUNE
са
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON.
·
MIPT. NOT TO HONGAID LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES),
BILL SECOND READING DEBATE.
WE ARE SENDING TO YOU SEPARATELY THE TEXT OF THE AMENDED CLAUSES IN THE BILL WHICH WILL BE GAZETTED IN ITS AMENDED FORM ON FRIDAY 14 JUNE. OUR PRESENT INTENTION IS TO HAVE THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD
READING ON 26 JUNE BUT A FINAL DECISION ON TIMING WILL TAKE
ACCOUNT OF ANY FURTHER VIEWS THAT MAY BE EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC.
2. IN LEGCO THIS AFTERNOON 13 UNOFFICIALS SPOKE. THE GENERAL THEME
WAS OF SUPPORT FOR THE PRINCIPLES OF THE BILL, SUBJECT TO THE
INTRODUCTION AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE VARIOUS AMENDMENTS WHICH
HAD ALREADY BEEN AGREED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION. THE MOTION THAT THE
BILL BE READ THE SECOND TIME WAS CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE BILL
WAS SO READ THIS AFTERNOON.
3. MISS MARIA TAM NOTED THAT IN TWELVE YEARS' TIME THE SAR GOVERNMENT
WOULD BE FORMED: THIS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AS NOW TO WESTMINSTER
FOR PRECEDENTS ON WHICH THE LEGISLATURE COULD BASE ITS CONDUCT AND
PROCEDURES. IT WAS THEREFORE NECESSARY NOW FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
ENACT ITS OWN RULES. THIS BILL DID NOTHING MORE THAN TO CODIFY THE
EXISTING PARLIAMENTARY LAW IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOCTRINE OF
INHERENT NECESSITY. MISS TAM AGREED THERE HAD BEEN A LACK OF UNDER-
STANDING ABOUT THE PURPOSES OF THE BILL: IN PARTICULAR THE CONCEPT
OF PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGE WAS DIFFICULT FOR THE PUBLIC TO GRASP.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN MANY CRITICS OF THE BILL RESERVATIONS HAD
BEEN TARGETED CONSISTENTLY AT THE SAME POINTS. THE DECISION TO
GO AHEAD WITH THE BILL WAS NOT TAKEN IN AN INSENSITIVE MANNER TO
THESE REPRESENTATIONS BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION HAD LONG SINCE
SHOWN ITS READINESS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.
4. MISS LYDIA DUNN SAID THAT SO MUCH HEAT HAD BEEN GENERATED THAT
THE PURPOSE OF THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL HAD BEEN FORGOTTEN.
THIS WAS SIMPLY TO ADDRESS THE PRINCIPLES BEHIND THE BILL AND TO
ENABLE MEMBERS TO EXPRESS THEIR OPINION OF THE BILL AS A WHOLE.
ALTHOUGH SHE AGREED WITH MANY OF THE DETAILED CRITICISMS THIS WAS NOT
THE TIME FOR CONSIDERING THEM. THEY SHOULD BE DEALT WITH AT THE
COMMITTEE STAGE WHEN THE BILL WOULD BE CONSIDERED CLAUSE BY CLAUSE
AND A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS WOULD BE TABLED.
5. DR HO KAM-FAI DISAGREED WITH THE SUGGESTION BY CRITICS OF THE
BILL THAT IT CONFERS MORE POWERS AND PRIVILEGES THAN THOSE
PRESENTLY ENJOYED BY THE COUNCIL.
CONFIDENTIAL
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