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ultimate control is in the hands of an elected legislature
which is secured under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
The fourth point is whether we are protecting any vested interest. This bill has been extensively amended which shows that we are responding to public opinion. Although the
original prime objective of this bill was to codify the
Parliamentary practices in common law which is extended or can
be extended to a colonial legislature under the doctrine of
inherent necessity, the Ad Hoc Group quickly realized that the concept of Parliamentary privilege is far removed from the
ordinary life of people in Hong Kong. We therefore aimed at
retaining what is in fact necessary for this Council to
function efficiently and effectively; and cast aside much of
what is said to be "inherently necessary". The bill now before Council reflects this practical approach. Indeed, we have received representations on Clauses 3, 4, 7(2), 13, 14, 15,
16,
17, 19, 20, 24 and 25 of the original bill. We have asked for
amendments to all, except Clauses 3 and 4 and 24 of the
original bill. Those who made representations to us should take account of the fact that we have responded readily to their representations, but it would not be proper for the Legislative Council at any time to act purely in response to
pressure.
Fifthly, there are representations made on the future development this Council.
The Chairman of the Bar Association, The President of the Law Society and the Chairman of Justice call for a review of whether with an elected legislature there should be created the office of a speaker of the Legislative Council and the powers, duties and responsbilities of that office; a review of
the relationship between the Council and its committees; a review of the relationship between the Council and the executive bodies and whether there should be a committee of
privileges or some suitable local equivalent. All these points will need to be considered between now and 1987.