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greatly enlarged and partly elected Council has the required
administrative support and that Members are adequately, but
not lavishly, recompensed for the long hours they devote to
Council business and the responsibilities of Office.
Finally, there is the legislation we are considering today
which will set out for Members, in their new, independent
Council Chamber, a a framework of law describing their rights
and defining their obligations in the exercise of those
rights. It is the view of the Government, and Members have
endorsed this view,
this view, that the new Council should have this
statement available
available to guide it when it starts its work.
Today's Council has grown and developed from the laws and
practices of the past: tomorrow's Council calls for a
clearer and more defined identity.
"For last year's words belong to last year's
language. And next year's words await another voice."
the
the
Already many Committees have been opened to the Public
Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee,
Estimates Committee, and there are Select Committees;
widening scope of the Council will doubtless lead to
others. How much better that we have available not only to
the Council but to Members of the public a basis of law in a
single Hong Kong Ordinance within which they
they can operate?
If subsequently the Council decides or there is legitimate
call for amendment or
debated by the Council.
addition
to
this law this can be