From The Minister of State
Richard Luce MP
/
HKD
(12)
PA
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
15 May 1985
Dear Ammin
Thank you for your letter of 23 April, in which you asked to be kept informed of progress on Hong Kong Government proposals to extend privileges (in the Parliamentary sense) to Members of the Legislative Council (LEGCO).
The Hong Kong Executive Council has now decided that a Bill to provide for the powers, privileges and immunities of Legislative Councillors should be introduced into LEGCO on 15 May.
The Bill was published on 10 May, and I enclose a copy of the gazette notice. As you will see, the Bill provides inter alia for freedom of speech and debate in the Council, for immunity from legal proceedings in respect of Council debates or reports, and for freedom from arrest for either civil debt or a criminal offence while attending the Council. It regulates the conduct of strangers in and around the Council Chamber. It also provides for the calling of witnesses to attend before the Council and its committees. Finally, it contains miscellaneous provisions in respect of offences, penalties, and the powers of the Governor acting as presiding officer of the Council.
Some of these provisions have either been covered in existing laws or have been recognised as normal LEGCO practice. They are however now covered in one Bill which, subject to the views of LEGCO itself, may be enacted well before the forthcoming LEGCO elections in September.
Andrew Faulds Esq MP
House of Commons London SWLA OAA
レーして
Rud
HICK
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY
1 7 MAY 1985
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