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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - 14 July 1988
concerning the professions should be vested with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region rather than the Central Government. Secondly, the Special Administrative Region Government should only be concerned with the statutory function of licensing, whilst professional qualifications should be assessed and conferred by the recognised professional institutions $hich shall retain their autonomy. New professions and professional institutions may be recognised after consultation with the concerned parties. It is believed that these basic principles have been met in the draft, but that further refinements in the text are necessary to give absolute clarity.
Representatives of nine professional institutions comprising the legal, medical, dental, accountancy, architecture, engineering, surveying and planning professions have formed a working group to meet regularly to study this particular clause as well as the Basic Law generally. It is hoped that a joint submission will be made to the Basic Law Drafting Committee. As the convener of that working group, I am most encouraged by the fact that it will be, I believe, the first time that the nine professions will have worked together for a common objective.
Despite some major disagreements over the selection of the Chief Executive and the future political structure, our community also found consensus in almost all other aspects of the draft.
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I urge that each the every person in Hong Kong should study the draft; that and/
they should render their opinions, irrespective of whether similar opinions have already been expressed or not; and that where differences exist, they should recognised that there is a common objective: for the good of the future of Hong Kong and, having recognised that, strive to reach a consensus.
In the years to come, let us not look back and say that we had the opportunity to do our part in pushing for a better Basic Law, but we had chosen to keep quiet.
Sir, I support the motion.
Mr. Martin LEE: May I have your leave to clarify a statement which was wrongly ascribed to me by the hon. Edward Ho?
HIS EXCELLENCY the President: If you could briefly clarify it, please.
Mr. Martin Lɛe: Sir, Mr. Ho believes that I have said that I have got it from the book published by the group of 81 that another object to have the grand electoral college is to enable the principal officials to be elected into the legislature. I said no such thing. In my speech I said: 'I have been told that another object is to enable principal officials to be elected into the legislature so as to preserve the present system of having Official Members in the Legislative Council.'
I am obliged to you.