CONFIDENTIAL
064563
MDLIAN 7529
COMMITTEES UNDER THE HOUSE COMMITTEE (REPLACING THE CURRENT IN- HOUSE MEETING) WHILE THE MINORITY VIEW WANTED THEM TO BE COMMITTEES OF THE FULL COUNCIL.
13.
THERE WERE HEATED DEBATES ON THIS ISSUE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE UDHK AND CRC. WHEN A VOTE ON THE 'MAJORITY' AND 'MINORITY' VIEWS WAS PROPOSED, CRC MEMBERS OBJECTED AND WALKED OUT AFTER A FUTILE PROTEST. THE 'MINORITY' VIEW WAS CARRIED BY 17 VOTES TO 5.
14.
AT THE IN-HOUSE MEETING ON 20 MARCH IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE 'MINORITY' MODEL SHOULD BE REFERRED BACK TO THE WORKING GROUP TO WORK OUT THE PRACTICAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.
SELECTION COMMITTEE ON LEGCO ELECTIONS
15.
THE SELECT COMMITTEE HELD A SERIES OF PUBLIC HEARINGS IN MARCH TO SOLICIT PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE 1995 ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS. THESE WERE ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, POLITICAL BODIES, INTEREST GROUPS AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CHAMBERS.
16. MORE HEARINGS WILL BE HELD UNTIL THE END OF APRIL 1992.
COMMENT
17. ''PARTY LINES WERE CLEARLY DRAWN IN THE DEBATES ON THE
LEGCO COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND THE BUDGET.
18.
WHILE THE DEBATE ON THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE IS TEMPORARILY OVERSHADOWED BY THE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET, THE ISSUE WILL NO DOUBT RESURFACE ONCE THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS TO THE STANDING ORDERS ARE PUT TO THE COUNCIL FOR VOTING. THE HEATED POLITICAL DEBATE OVER THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE HAS NOT HELPED THE IMAGE OF THE LEGCO.
19.
THE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET IS LIKELY TO REMAIN IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE UDHK HAS SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE. CRC MEMBERS ARE, HOWEVER, MORE DIVIDED AND HAVE COME UNDER PRESSURE FORM UDHK TO JOIN FORCE WITH THEM TO VOTE DOWN THE APPROPRIATION BILL. CRC MEMBERS ARE NOW UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE TO VOTE AGAINST THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE PROPERTY RATES BY HALF A PERCENT.
WILSON
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CONFIDENTIAL