13
TRIN
. MAY 15, 1985
INSTEAD OF PLEDGING LOYALTY TO THE CROWN, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OATH TOOK THE FORM OF A PUBLIC AFFIRMATION OF DUTY TO SHOW THAT THE MEMBER ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH HE OR SHE HAD INCURRED BY APPOINTMENT OR ELECTION AND THAT HE OR SHE WOULD CONSCIENTIOUSLY AND TRULY SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.
+THIS PROVISION WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY INSTIL A GREATER SENSE OF DIRECT ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,+ SAID MRS NG.
SHE SAID CONCERNS WERE RAISED THAT WITH THE PASSING OF THIS BILL A SCENARIO WOULD OCCUR WHEREBY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS PURELY BY THE OATH WHICH THEY CHOSE TO TAKE UPON THEIR ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE.
+I AM OF THE VIEW THAT THIS SHOULD NOT CAUSE ANY UNDUE ALARM, SHE SAID.
+I FIRMLY BELIEVE, AND I AM SURE MY COLLEAGUES WOULD AGREE, THAT MEMBERS SITTING WITHIN THIS CHAMBER HAVE THE SOLE AIM TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND WOULD DO NOTHING BUT TO FOSTER THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC.
+THERE IS A SAYING, 'OATHS ARE BUT WORDS, AND WORDS ARE BUT WIND."
+ALTHOUGH I COULD NOT ENTIRELY AGREE TO THIS
AM CONFIDENT THAT NO MATTER WHICH OATH MEMBERS TAKE THE THOUGHTS BEHIND IT GO MUCH FURTHER BEYOND THE WORDS THEMSELVES, SHE SAID.
NEW OATH A HELP TO LEGCO
*****
THE OBJECT OF THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WAS THAT OATH TAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NOT IMPEDE, AND INDEED SHOULD FACILITATE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON PETER TSAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL, MR TSAO SAID IT SOUGHT TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE OATH WHICH MIGHT BE TAKEN BY ANY MEMBER OF LEGCO WHO DID NOT WISH TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
/BE ASSURED