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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
I am now deliberating on whether the motion has been sufficiently discussed at the meeting.
Mr. Lai Hok-Lim (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, if no one seconds the procedural motion, we cannot go for a dilatory motion.
Mr. San Stephen Wong Hon-Ching (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, I second the motion. I shall be keen to know of the Chairman's decision on this.
Chairman (in Cantonese): My attitude is always fair, just and open.
May be we can do this. As many Members have registered to speak, we may as well listen to all of them and listen to the response. Or do we want to put the question to the vote at once?
Mr. Ip Kwok-Chung (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, if you are referring to a procedural motion, the question should be put to the vote immediately.
Chairman (in Cantonese): Do I take it that Mr. Ip thinks since the issue has been fully discussed at the meeting, the question can be put on the motion as long as the right of reply under Standing Order 21(16) is not affected? Does everyone think the issue has been fully discussed? If you think so, other Members who have registered to speak need not speak and we go on to vote on the procedural motion first.
Mr. Lai Hok-Lim (in Cantonese): Mr. Chairman, please make a ruling first on whether the original motion and the amendment have been fully discussed at the meeting. We want to know your ruling. If you think the issue has not been fully discussed, you can opt not to allow the procedural motion for the time being and allow it when everyone has discussed the matter fully. If you rule that the original and amended motions have not been fully discussed at the meeting, you can continue to allow further discussions until you are satisfied before putting the question on the procedural motion.
Chairman (in Cantonese): Secretary, how many more Members have registered to speak?
Secretary (in Cantonese): Six more have registered to speak.
Chairman (in Cantonese): All right, here is my ruling. I shall draw the line after these 6 Members have spoken. I note that 6 Members already spoke before this. We may as well give Members the chance to speak. Some of them may have prepared speeches. It saves time even if we refer this to discussion at the relevant Select Committee. So, we will have the issue fully discussed before voting on the procedural motion. Is that all right? Let us have the remaining 7 Members
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