6
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1985
+ALL THESE FIVE REASONS, JUDGING FROM THE POSITIVE RESPONSE WE HAVE HAD TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT, ARGUES FOR THE CODIFICATION EXERCISE TO BE DONE AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND INDEED, UNTIL JUNE 10, 1985, NEARLY ALL THE GROUPS OR ORGANISATIONS THAT CAME AND MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE AD HOC GROUP SUPPORTED THE SPIRIT AND PURPOSE OF THE BILL ALTHOUGH THEY RIGHTLY CRITICISED INDIVIDUAL CLAUSES IN ITS CONTENTS,+ SHE SAID.
THEY SUPPORTED THE MAIN PRIVILEGES DEFINED IN THE BILL IN RESPECT OF THE STATEMENTS MADE IN DEBATE IN COUNCIL PROTECTION OF MEMBERS FROM ANY ACTION IN THE COURTS FOR DEFAMATION ARISING OUT OF SUCH STATEMENTS: MEMBERS' FREEDOM FROM ARREST WHILE DISCHARGING THEIR DUTY AS LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS WITHIN THE PRECINCTS OF THE COUNCIL (OR IN THE CASE OF CIVIL MATTER, WHILE GOING TO AND COMING AWAY FROM ITS PRECINCTS); EXEMPTIONS FROM JURY SERVICE AND ATTENDANCE IN COURT AS WITNESSES.
THERE WAS A VERY STRONG SUPPORT TOO ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
SHE THE INVESTIGATORY ROLE OF THE COMMITTEES OF THE COUNCIL, OBSERVED.
HOWEVER IN SPITE OF THE OBVIOUS NEED FOR SUCH A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL HAD MET WITH A CONTROVERSIAL RECEPTION.
+ I BELIEVE IT IS RIGHTLY CRITICISED THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF CONSULTATION ON THE BILL OUTSIDE THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, AND IT IS WRONGLY, THOUGH NOT DELIBERATELY, PERCEIVED AS A BILL WHICH WILL ATTRACT ONLY A LIMITED INTEREST; AND THAT IN TRYING TO ADOPT A SAFE AND WELL TRIED FORMULA IN CREATING THIS BILL A LITTLE TOO MUCH GRAFTING IS MADE FROM THE EQUIVALENT ACTS OF TERRITORIES WHICH WERE ONCE BRITISH COLONIES, BUT ARE NOW INDEPENDENT,+ SHE SAID.
+BUT THE MOST PERSUASIVE ARGUMENT WHICH CAUSED THE AD HOC GROUP IN CHARGE OF THE BILL TO EMBARK ON AN OVERHAUL OF PART IV OF THIS BILL WAS THAT SOON AFTER WE RECEIVED THE FIRST REPRESENTATION ON MAY 24, WE KNEW THAT THE CONCEPT OF PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES AND PRACTICE IS FAR REMOVED FROM THE ORDINARY LIFE OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY: THAT THERE IS THE NEED TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC OF OUR COMMITMENT TO A MORE OPEN GOVERNMENT AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, AND THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGES LEADING UP TO 1997, SHE ADDED.
THE AD HOC GROUP, SHE SAID, TOOK IMMEDIATE ACTION AFTER RECEIVING THE FIRST REPRESENTATION BY THE HONG KONG AFFAIRS SOCIETY ON MAY 24 TO CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS TO WORK ON AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL, WHICH FIRST DRAFT WAS READY ON JUNE 3.
/THESE