Sir,
the subject
on
been
The
the principle of bilingual legislation has
and of
intensive consultation. extensive Attorney General's Chambers deserve credit for initiating a very the Laws in Chinese useful
informative Discussion Paper and issued for public discussion in April 1986. A LegCo Ad Hoc Group consisting of 13 Members under the Convenorship of my colleague,
Mr F K HU was
to examine its implications. formed in May 1986
task in 2 With usual LegCo efficiency, the Group completed its task months and an Adjournment Debate on the subject was held in this Council in July 1986.
will Members
recall that the principle of bilingual legislation was warmly welcomed by the public, and that several colleagues who important general points were emphasized by my
has obviously,
of great
at
debate. the
This,
spoke assistance to the present Ad Hoc Group.
aspects
been
The main task of my Group was to examine the technical
the of
Bills and the
practical
implications in
implementation. The basic principle that final legislative power
this Council and
the not
attention Group's meticulous
should rest
received
with
this
the
principle
in
the Bills
Executive Council
and
have been
happily
departures from
resolved.
Appropriate amendments will be moved at the Committee Stage.
Sir, briefly the proposals in the Bills are
are to provide
for legislation to enable
1.
Laws in Hong Kong to be enacted in both English
and Chinese,
2.
The English and the equal authenticity, and
Chinese versions
to
enjoy
3.
to be set up
matters
A Bilingual Laws Advisory Committee
advise the Executive Council on relating to bilingual legislation.
to