UN
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977
IN REGARD TO TWO SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FROM MR. ALEX WU, HE SAID THE ANSWERS MUST LIE IN THE REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT EMBARKED ON A POLICY OF DEVELOPING INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
+AS I REMINDED MEMBERS IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THIS BILL THE PURPOSE OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IS TO BROADEN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIAL BASE BY CATERING TO THOSE INDUSTRIES WHICH CANNOT OPERATE IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, + HE POINTED OUT.
+50 THE SPECIFIC ANSWER TO THE FIRST QUESTION IS THAT TO BE CONSIDERED SERIOUSLY APPLICATION FROM FIRMS ALREADY ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THIS PURPOSE, AND TO THE SECOND QUESTION THE ANSWER IS THAT LAND INTENSIVE IS NOT REALLY THE POINT. IT IS THE INABILITY TO OPERATE IN A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING.+
IN REPLY TO A NUMBER OF POINTS RAISED BY DR. CHUNG, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOBLEY, SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE CONCERN OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ABOUT THE IR RIGHT TO ASK QUESTIONS RELATING TO SOME STATUTORY CORPORATIONS.
SOME SUCH QUESTIONS, HE POINTED OUT, MIGHT BE ASKED AS THE COUNCIL'S STANDING ORDERS STAND, BUT THERE WAS ROOM FOR DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IN PARTICULAR CASES.
+ THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS IT APPROPRIATE TO INTRODUCE A FURTHER PROVISION INTO STANDING ORDERS DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH QUESTION ABOUT CERTAIN STATUTORY CORPORATIONS, WHICH WILL, WE HOPE, MEET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' WISHES AND REMOVE AREAS OF DOUBT,+ HE REVEALED.
+THE GENERAL INTENTION IS THAT QUESTIONS MAY BE ASKED IN RELATION TO ANY STATUTORY CORPORATION TO WHICH THE GOVERNOR HAS POWER TO GIVE DIRECTIONS AND POSSIBLY SOME OTHERS. THAT DESCRIBES THE CLASS OF CORPORATION.
+1 NOW TURN TO THE CLASS OF QUESTION WHICH IT IS SUGGESTED MAY BE ASKED. THESE COULD RELATE TO THE EXERCISE OR NON-EXERCISE OF THE PARTICULAR POWER TO GIVE DIRECTIONS AND TO ANY MATTER OF GENERAL POLICY OF OR RELATING TO THE CORPORATION.+
HOWEVER, MR. HOBLEY STRESSED, THE GOVERNMENT'S STICKING POINT, AND ON THIS IT MUST STAND FIRM, WAS THAT IT COULD NOT ACCEPT A RESPONSIBILITY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS WHICH CONCERNED THE DAY-TO-DAY AFFAIRS OR ADMINISTRATION OF A STATUTORY CORPORATION.
HE REITERATED THAT SUCH CORPORATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED BY THIS COUNCIL AS ESSENTIALLY AUTONOMOUS BODIES.
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