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MONDAY, MARCH 25, 1985
FULL PUBLIC DEBATE SOUGHT ON BILL
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GOVERNOR
THE PURPOSE OF INTRODUCING THE TRIAL OF COMMERCIAL CRIMES BILL INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE FULL PUBLIC DEBATE, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE,, SAID THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.
+IT IS NOT TO BE EXPECTED THAT EVERYBODY WILL HAVE
THE SAME VIEW ON ISSUES OF THIS KIND, AND I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS INTEND TO CONDUCT A WIDE RANGE OF CONSULTATIONS THEMSELVES AND SEE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THESE MATTERS, HE SAID.
+AND THAT I THINK IS ENTIRELY RIGHT BECAUSE THE PROPOSALS AND THE ISSUES ARE OF IMPORTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.+
THE GOVERNOR WAS REPLYING TO QUESTIONS FROM REPORTERS AFTER OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE FAR EAST SEMINAR AT THE LEE GARDENS HOTEL.
SIR EDWARD SAID HE WAS GLAD TO SEE OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THERE WAS NOW A DISPOSITION TO CONSIDER THESE ISSUES RATHER MORE DISPASSIONATELY.
+THERE IS OF COURSE NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE PROCEDURE WHICH HAS BEEN ADOPTED FOR THIS BILL, NOR AS I NOTICED WAS CLEARLY NOTED IN THE PRESS OVER THE WEEKEND - ON THE GOVERNOR COMMENTING ON THESE MATTERS, HE SAID.
+YOU MAY RECALL THAT I SPOKE ABOUT THIS PROPOSAL IN MY ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST OCTOBER.
+AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WAS AT THAT TIME CONDUCTING CONSULTATIONS, AND AS THE RESULT OF THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT WHICH CAME AT THAT TIME, THE PROPOSAL WAS PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
+AND WITH THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, IT WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+THAT IS ALL A VERY NORMAL PROCEDURE,+ HE SAID.
ON WHETHER LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD BENEFIT IF THE SUBJECT WERE PUT BEFORE THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION FIRST, SIR EDWARD SAID, THERE HAS BEEN A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS AS TO PROCEDURE, AND ANOTHER ONE IS THAT WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE ROSK ILL COMMISSION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS CONSIDERED THIS ISSUE.+
+BUT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS ARE NOW, OF COURSE, ENTIRELY FREE AS THEY ALWAYS ARE WHEN MATTERS ARE PUT BEFORE THEM TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE ITSELF ON ITS MERITS AND CONSIDER THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
/+IT IS