WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985
ON DR THE HON HO KAM-FA1 AND DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP'S TECHNICAL POINT, SIR PHILIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE HOW IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE PROCEDURE REGULATIONS, WHEN THEY CAME FORWARD IN A FEW WEEKS' TIME, WOULD DEFINE THE MECHANICS OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS ITSELF IN ORDER TO THROW UP A CANDIDATE WITH AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY,
SIR PHILIP SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CAREFULLY NOTED THE VIEW STRONGLY EXPRESSED BY A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS THAT SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS UNDER THE BILL SHOULD DESIRABLY BE MADE, IN FUTURE, BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+THIS VIEW WILL BE CAREFULLY, AND I DARESAY SYMPATHETICALLY, CONSIDERED IN THE REVIEW OF THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WE SHALL BE CONDUCTING IN 1987 PARI PASSU WITH THE REVIEW OF HOW THE 1984 WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS HAVE WORKED OUT IN PRACTICE SO THAT CONSIDERATION CAN BE GIVEN TO ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE THE INTRODUCTION OF A DIRECTLY ELECTED ELEMENT, + HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPRESSED GRATITUDE FOR THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE BILL BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND ALSO FOR THE IR UNDERSTANDING OF THE VERY TIGHT TIME CONSTRAINTS UNDER WHICH WE HAD ALL BEEN LABOUR ING.
+THESE CONSTRAINTS ARISE, OF COURSE, FROM THE FACT THAT THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THIS COUNCIL UNTIL NOVEMBER 21 1984, LEAVING ONLY NINE MONTHS FOR ALL THE NECESSARY PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN THE AUTUMN OF 1985 TO BE PUT IN HAND, FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH ORGANISATIONS MAKING UP THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, AND FOR ENABLING LEGISLATION TO BE DRAFTED.
+THIS IS BECAUSE ACTUAL ELECTIONS BY BOTH THE ELECTORAL COLLEGES AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES HAVE TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF SEPTEMBER LEAVING A MONTH FOR THE GOVERNOR TO COMPLETE THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WITH THE REQUISITE NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS, HE SAID.
+ IT IS A FACT, AND I KNOW THAT MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF THIS, THAT UNLESS THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS FOR INCLUSION IN THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER CAN BEGIN ON APRIL 15, AND NO LATER, AND UNLESS THE PUBLICATION OF NOTICES OF ELECTIONS INVITING NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES ARE PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE ON AUGUST 2 AND NO LATER, WE SHALL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPLETE EITHER THE REGISTRATION CYCLE OR THE ELECTORAL CYCLE IN TIME FOR ELECTION DAY,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
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