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It was Sir Edward Youde, the Governor, who proposed the
Legislative Council (Powers & Privileges) Bill. He also pointed out
on different occasions that readings of the bill would not be deferred,
thereby setting the time for the bill. Before his retirement,
Sir Philip Haddon-Cave also stressed that the Hong Kong Government could
not bear too much criticism during the transition period and hoped that
the media could exercise self-restraint. It followed that Michael Thomas
and Selina CHOW made every effort to advocate the setting up of a media
council. It seemed that all these had to be rushed through before
1st July. Many people may want to ask why was the Hong Kong Government
in such a hurry? Why didn't it extend the consultative period?
The reasons behind these are still unknown up to now. Some
people ask, "Could the government wait for the inclusion of elected
members in the Legislative Council before it passed the Legislative Council (Powers & Privileges) Bill? Could the changes in the law governing Hong Kong's
political system not be made until the Basic Law outlines the future
political structure of Hong Kong?"
These queries are on the right track. They help us to calm down
and eliminate all mirages, and see the motive hidden in a deeper stratum.
How was the Legislative Council (Powers & Privileges)
Bill drafted?
The British are very experienced and have a foolproof policy to
cope with withdrawal from a colony. To withdraw from Hong Kong, however,
the veteran Britain encounters a new problem. Hong Kong is not to become
an independent country from a colony. Its sovereignty is to be handed over
to a strong China which has a population of one billion. Therefore, these
experiences not only are unable to effect a smooth withdrawal, but will
place Britain in a very embarrassing situation. These obsolete experiences
and procedures, which are not applicable to the situations of Hong Kong,
will definitely meet criticism and objection if adopted in Hong Kong without
any alteration.