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HKB
011/7
pa. Electrons
111356
MDHIAN 2491
31
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FM HONG KONG
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 858
OF 270908Z MAY 1993
RECENTE
STRY
{
JUN 1393
DESK OF INDEX
REASTRY
aken Actin
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG
BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION BILL
SUMMARY
LEGCO PASSED THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION (BEC) BILL YESTERDAY (26 MAY) WILL OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. 41 VOTES FOR AND 2 VOTES AGAINST (FROM TWO PRO-CHINA MEMBERS : TAM YIU-CHUNG AND PHILIP WONG). PRO-CHINA NEWSPAPERS HAVE CRITICISED THE ENACTMENT
OF THE BILL AS PUTTING OBSTACLES TO THE SINO-BRITISH
NEGOTIATIONS.
DETAIL
2. AT THE SECOND READING DEBATE, MR TAM YIU-CHUNG SAID THAT ALL BILLS RELATING TO THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS SHOULD ONLY BE ENACTED
AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF TALKS BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS. THE ENACTMENT OF THE BEC BILL WAS THEREFORE UNTIMELY. HE QUERIED THE NEED FOR THE BEC BILL TO MAKE CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS (DB) ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE OF ELECTED DB MEMBERS TO 338 FOR THE
NEXT TERM. IT WOULD PRE-EMPT DISCUSSION ON THE FUTURE OF THE APPOINTED DB MEMBERSHIP. MR PHILIP WONG MADE SIMILAR VIEW AGAINST
ENACTMENT OF THE BILL WHILE SINO-BRITISH NEGOTIATIONS WERE
CONTINUING.
3. AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, MARTIN LEE ATTEMPTED TO AMEND CLAUSE 21 OF THE BILL SO THAT THE PERMISSIBLE MARGIN OF DEVIATION FROM
THE POPULATION QUOTA SHOULD BE 15PERCENT INSTEAD OF 25 PERCENT AS
PROPOSED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. SCA'S PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 21 (INCLUDING THE 25 PERCENT MARGIN RULE) WAS SUPPORTED BY 27 VOTES FOR: 16 VOTES AGAINST (MAINLY FROM THE UDHK, ADPL AND SOME LIBERAL INDEPENDENTS) AND ONE ABSTENTION.
4. AT THE THIRD READING, MR PHILIP WONG ASKED FOR A DIVISION. THE VOTING RESULT WAS : 41 VOTES FOR AND 2 VOTES AGAINST 9AND NO ABSTENTION). THE RESULT INDICATE WIDE SUPPORT IN LEGCO AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE FOR THE SETTING UP OF THE BEC.
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