MRS. CHOW:
Sir,
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Cap
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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MRS SELINA CHOW, OBE,
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -/16 MARCH 1988
Housing (Amendment) Bill 1988,
Legislative Council
As Convener of the Lego Ad Hoc group formed to scrutinige the bill before Council, may I first report on the points raised during our deliberation.
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Before I move to the substance of the Bill, let me first express concern, widely felt among Members not only within the Ad Koc group, but also of most non-official members, over the timing le Of
of the announcement of the designation of the first hofficial le chairman of the Housing Authority. This was seen as
as a pre-emptive
move the part of the Administration, which presumed the passage of the Bill before deliberation by the group and debate by this
Council were concluded. This procedural oversight is deeply
regretted by our Members.
However in spite of
this complaint, when the group l
Geusinged
were
approached the Bill, we decided to, adopt an entirely open mind regarding the time table,
neither to be rushed, nor to
delay its passage simply to get back the Administration. We
acknowledged the fact that we
kept informed of the
Government's intention to introduce the proposed changes to the
Housing Authority when the statement on the Long Term Housing Strategy was published last year, that the reorganization package
was endorsed-
Lendorsed-by
by the Housing Authority, that the Bill was gazetted in mid-February, allowing ample time for study and reaction, that
ک
Killthe OMELCO Housing Panel had been informed of the Bill and its
intended legislative time-table immediately following ExCo's decision to introduce it into Lego Legislative Council,
Executive, Council's
Notwithstanding the above, we would like to advise the
Administration that as a principle it is best that steps are not
taken in anticipation of the passage of a Bill.
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