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MDLIAN 7897
BILLS WERE ENACTED AND ANOTHER 34 WILL BE CARRIED OVER TO THE NEXT SESSION. (IN THE 1991/92 SESSION, 100 BILLS WERE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO, 80 WERE ENACTED AND 20 WERE CARRIED OVER TO THE FOLLOWING SESSION.) GENERALLY SPEAKING, BILLS WERE PROCESSED IN A BUSINESSLIKE MANNER WITH LITTLE PARTISAN POLITICS - WITH THE
NOTABLE EXCEPTION OF THE WESTERN HARBOUR CROSSING BILL.
11. THE GOVERNOR HAS NOT LOST A SINGLE BILL DURING THE SESSION. WHILE AMENDMENTS AND SOME COMPROMISES HAD TO BE MADE IN A FEW CONTROVERSIAL AND DIFFICULT BILLS 9SUCH AS THE LEGISLATION ON OCCUPATIONAL RETIREMENT SCHEMES, DEATH PENALTY, PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES, AND DECONTROL OF RENT), ALL THE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES REQUIRED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WENT THROUGH LEGCO LARGELY IN THEIR
ORIGINAL FORM.
12. SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, WHICH SELDOM ATTRACTED MUCH INTEREST IN THE PAST, CAUGHT MEMBERS' ATTENTION DURING THE SESSION. FIVE PIECES OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION WERE CHALLENGED BY MEMBERS THIS SESSION, FOUR OF THEM ON FEE/TOLL INCREASES AND ONE ON THE AMALGAMATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS. AS A RESULT, THE FEE INCREASE PROPOSED IN THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (FEES) (AMENDMENT) RULES
1992 AND THE TOLL INCREASES FOR THREE GOVERNMENT TUNNELS PROPOSED IN THE ROAD TUNNELS (GOVERNMENT) (AMENDMENT) REGULATION 1993 WERE NOT ACCEPTED BY LEGCO. THEIR IMPACT ON THE ADMINISTRATION WAS MINIMAL. AGAINST THE LOSS OF THESE TWO ITEMS WAS THE SUCCESSFUL
PASSAGE OF OVER 400 PIECES OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
13. UDHK PERSISTED IN ITS ATTEMPT TO USE PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL AS A VEHICLE TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT POLICIES. AT THE END OF THE SESSION, IT INTRODUCED A PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILL TO REGULATE OUR IMPORTATION OF LABOUR SCHEME. THE BILL WILL BE TACKLED NEXT SESSION.
FINANCE COMMITTEE (FC)
14. OF THE 169 ITEMS CONSIDERED BY FC, SEVEN WERE WITHDRAWN AND ONE VOTED DOWN. FOUR OF THEM WERE SUBSEQUENTLY RESUBMITTED AND APPROVED (INCLUDING THE ONE THAT WAS VOTED DOWN IN THE FIRST INSTANCE) WHILE THE OTHER FOUR ARE BEING RE-EXAMINED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. WE HAVE THEREFORE SUCCEEDED IN SECURING FUNDING FOR ALL THE ACTIVITIES WE HAVE WANTED DURING THE SESSION, INCLUDING FUNDING FOR THE AIRPORT PROJECT, DESPITE THE DIFFICULT POLITICAL SITUATION WE WERE FACING.
15. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT MANAGEMENT OF FUNDING PROPOSALS IS NOW MORE DIFFICULT. DISCUSSIONS AT FC MEETINGS HAVE BECOME MORE PROTRACTED
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