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Wednesday, November 1, 1972
THE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIALS
Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council consider it their
duty to help the Government in every possible way to devise the most suitable
laws, policies and methods of administration for Hong Kong, the Hon. P.C.
Woo said today.
Mr. Woo was speaking in the Legislative Council this afternoon
on a motion of thanks for the Governor's address at the opening session
on October 18.
This was the first occasion on which Mr. Woo spoke in an opening
debate as the Senior Unofficial Member of the Council.
He said Unofficials did not regard themselves as being "an opposition
to the Government."
The Unofficials, he said, did take note of public opinion on
new legislation and matters of topical public concern and where appropriate,
make representations in the Council.
"In doing so it is from time to time necessary for us to comment
upon and where necessary to criticize both draft legislation and government
policies and administration," Mr. Woo said.
It fell to the Unofficials to prod the Official Members by means
of questions and through other forms of parliamentary procedure "to keep
the Government on its toes".
Mr. Woo noted that this function of the Unofficials appeared
largely to have lapsed during the 1950's when only 12 questions were
asked during a 10-year period.
/Again