3
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All these 5 reasons, judging from the positive
response we have had towards a more representative government, argue for the codification exercise to be done at this juncture in time, and indeed, until the 10th of June 1985, nearly all the groups or organization that came and made representation to the Ad Hoc Group supported the spirit and purpose of the bill although they criticised individual Clauses in its contents.
They support the main privileges defined in this bill in respect of the statements made in debate in Council; protection of members from any action in the courts for defamation arising out of such statements; members' freedom from arrest while discharging their duty as Legislative Councillors within the precincts of the council (or in the case of civil matter, while going to and away from its precincts); exemptions from Jury service and attendance in court as witnesses. There is also a strong support on the development of the investigatory role of committees of the Council.
However in spite of the obvious need for such a piece of legislation, the introduction of the bill has met with a controversial reception. I believe it is rightly criticised that there was a lack of consultation on the Bill outside the Unofficial Members of this Council, and it is wrongly, though not deliberately, perceived as a bill which will attract only a limited interest; and that in trying to adopt a safe and well tried formula in creating this bill a little too much grafting is made from the equivalent acts of British colonies which are now independent. But the most persuasive argument which caused the Ad Hoc Group in charge of the bill to embark on a major overhaul of Part IV of this Bill was that soon after we received the first representation on this Bill on the 24th of May, we knew that the concept of Parliamentary privileges and practice is far removed from the ordinary life of the Hong Kong community; that there is the need to reassure the public of their freedom of expression, and our commitment to a more open government in the light of changes leading up to 1997.