Sir,
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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MARIA TAM, OBE, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 26.6.85
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Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 1985
Third Reading
Since the second reading of the bill the Ad Hoc group
has received further representations on this bill, and the names of the individuals or organisations are listed in the
enclosures to this speech. Some of these organisations and
individuals have made suggestions of amendments, and some have
asked for a deferment of this bill until all District Board and
members of the public have expressed their views on it, or
until there are elected members to this Council in the next
session.
The Ad Hoc Group went through all the representations
and considered every point raised by them. My colleagues speaking at the committee stage have dealt with clauses on
which we reflected the views of the public and asked for
amendments. For the clauses which we are not asking for
amendments, there needs to be reasons given; and to those who
have given us their generous comments, there needs to be a
reply, and I shall deal with them one by one.
First, the unamended clauses:
(1) Clauses 3 and 4: The criticism is that these 2
clauses overlap and there should be sanctions against
any member who abuses his or her position by making
defamatory comments in Council or committee. On the
first point: after considering the criticism, we are satisfied that Clause 3 states the general principle
that there shall be freedom of speech and debate in
the Council, i.e. the privilege is attached to the
Council. And Clause 4 gives immunity from legal
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