2
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1985
THESE MEASURES INCLUDED THE ALTERNATIVE FORM OF OATH ENDORSED EARLIER BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AMENDMENTS TO THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS TO ENABLE ELECTIONS TO TAKE PLACE: LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF ELECTION ARRANGEMENTS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE ENLARGED AND PARTLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; AND ARRANGEMENTS TO RECOMPENSE MEMBERS FOR THE LONG HOURS THEY DEVOTE TO COUNCIL BUSINESS AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE, HE SAID.
THIS
+THERE IS NO HIDDEN AGENDA, NO CONCEALED MOTIVE, LEGISLATION TODAY IS LINKED IN AN ORGANIC WAY TO THE OTHER MEASURES HAVE DESCRIBED, HE SAID.
THE BILL WOULD SET OUT FOR MEMBERS, IN THEIR NEW, INDEPENDENT COUNCIL CHAMBER, A FRAMEWORK OF LAW DESCRIBING THEIR RIGHTS AND DEFINING THE IR OBLIGATIONS IN THE EXERCISE OF THOSE RIGHTS, HE SAID,
+ IT IS THE VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND MEMBERS HAVE ENDORSED THIS VIEW, THAT THE NEW COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THIS STATEMENT AVAILABLE TO GUIDE IT WHEN IT STARTS WORK.
.+TODAY'S COUNCIL HAS GROWN AND DEVELOPED FROM THE LAWS AND PRACTICES OF THE PAST: TOMORROW'S COUNCIL CALLS FOR A CLEARER AND MORE DEF INED IDENTITY.
+FOR LAST YEAR'S WORDS BELONG TO LAST YEAR'S LANGUAGE. NEXT YEAR'S WORDS AWAIT ANOTHER VOICE.
AND
+ IF SUBSEQUENTLY THE COUNCIL DECIDES OR THERE IS LEGITIMATE CALL FOR AMENDMENT OR ADDITION TO THIS LAW THIS CAN BE DEBATED BY THE COUNCIL, HE SAID.
TURNING TO SPECIFIC DETAILS, SIR DAVID CONFIRMED THAT LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES OF WITNESSES WHEN THEY ATTEND SELECT COMMITTEES WOULD BE ADMITTED.
AS FOR PROCEDURES TO BE ADOPTED BY SELECT COMMITTEES, HE SAID THEY GENERALLY COULD NOT LOOK INTO PRIVATE AFFAIRS AND THAT THE PRIVATE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS WERE PROTECTED BY CLAUSES ALREADY INCLUDED IN THE BILL.
+FINALLY THE JURISDICTION OF A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL IS DEFINED BY ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE WHICH IN TURN ARE STAMPED WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF, HE SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION IN RECENT YEARS HAVE HAD THE DETAILED SCRUTINY AND THE BENEFIT OF SO MUCH USEFUL COMMENT AND ADVICE.
/HE PAID