14
BILLS PASSED
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1974
SEVEN BILLS PASSED THEIR THIRD AND FINAL READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO BECOME LAW.
THEY WERE: THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS COWNERS INCORPORATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE BILL 1974, THE ROAD TRAFFIC CAMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1974, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT)(NO.3) BILL 1974, THE FIXED PENALTY CTRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS)(AMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE EMPLOYMENT CAMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1974, AND THE BUILDINGS CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974.
NINE OTHER BILLS HAD THEIR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. THEY WERE: THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION CAMENDRENT) BILL 1974, THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT)(NO.2) BILL 1974, THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE COMPANIES CAMENDMENT) (NO. 30 BILL 1974, THE MAGISTRATES CAMENDMENT)(NO.2) BILL 1974, THE TOUN PLANNING CAMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1974, THE URBAN COUNCIL CAMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1974 AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974.
TODAY'S MEETING WAS ADJOURNED UNTIL AUGUST 14 WHEN THE LAST MEETING OF THE CURRENT SESSION WILL BE HELD.
WIDER SCOPE FOR URBCO MEMBERSHIP
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THE URBAN COUNCIL CAMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL, WHICH SEEKS TO REMOVE ALL REFERENCE TO LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP TO THE URBAN COUNCIL, RECEIVED ITS FIRST READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AS THE LAW NOW STANDS POTENTIAL MEMBERS MUST BE PROFICIENT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO QUALIFY FOR MEMBERSHIP'. UNDER THE BILL, THIS REQUIREMENT WILL BE DROPPED TO ENABLE PERSONS WHO ONLY SPEAK CANTONESE AND WHO CAN READ AND URITE THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SAID IT MIGHT BE THOUGHT THAT THIS IS TAKING AN UNDUE RISK FOR EVEN PERSONS WHO ARE OTHERUISE QUALIFIED BUT ARE CAPABLE OF SPEAKING NOTHING BUT DOUBLE DUTCH WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO THE COUNCIL.t
+ THE RISK IS THERE,+ HE SAID, +BUT THE ALTERNATIVE OF PROVIDING FOR TESTS OF SPOKEN CANTONESE IN THIS CITY OF STRANGE HALF DIALECTS WAS EVEN MORE FEARSOME.+
MR. BRAY RECALLED THAT THE THEN COLONIAL SECRETARY HAD IN JULY LAST YEAR SPOKEN OF THE NEED TO REMOVE THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT AS SOON AS ENOUGH INTERPRETERS COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE. SUFF IC IENT INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS WERE NOW AVAILABLE TO ALLOW FOR THE CHANCE.
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