Sir,
UMELCO RESTRICTED
DRAFT SPEECH BY DR HON HO KAM FAI, OBE,
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 12.6.85
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JP
Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 1985
The intentions of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 1985 are to lay down some rules so as to enable Members of this Council as a body to properly and efficiently perform their duties and responsibilities. However, quite a few critics seem to have the impression that the Bill confers more powers and privileges than those presently enjoyed by the Legislative Council. In particular, they think that the power to call witnesses to give evidence before the Council is a new invention and express concern that it might infringe on privacy or civil liberties.
As a matter of public information, I would like to invite attention to the fact that such power has for many years been provided under section 4 of the Oaths and Declarations Ordinance, Cap. 11 of the Laws of Hong Kong which reads:
"(1) The Legislative Council and any
committee thereof may administer an oath to
a witness examined before the Council or
committee, and for that purpose shall have the same powers, rights and privileges as are possessed or exercisable by the House of
Commons of the United Kingdom or any committee for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and punishing persons guilty of
contempt.
(2) An oath may be administered by the presiding member of the Council or any
committee thereof."
UMELCO RESTRICTED