WEDNE、AY, JUNE 26, 1995
14
BILL PASSED IN GOOD CONSCIENCE
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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNOFFICIALS WERE SATISFIED THAT THEY MIGHT, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, PASS THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL 1985, THE HON SIR ROGER LOBO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
HE WAS WINDING-UP DURING THE THIRD READING OF THE BILL AT TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
+AS THE HARD-WORK ING CONVENER OF OUR AD HOC GROUP HAS POINTED OUT, THERE IS PROBABLY NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT BILL, HE SAID.
+BUT MANY HOURS AND DAYS HAVE BEEN SPENT PORING OVER ITS PROVISIONS AND THE HELPFUL REPRESENTATIONS WE HAVE RECEIVED.
+A NUMBER OF USEFUL AND DESIRABLE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE AND WE ARE SATISFIED THAT WE MAY NOW, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, PASS THE BILL, HE SAID.
SIR ROGER POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL ENSHRINED POWERS WHICH COUNCILLORS ADJUDGED NECESSARY FOR THE ORDERLY AND EFFICIENT CONDUCT OF THE COUNCIL.
+BUT IT IS NOT HOLY WRIT AND IF OUR SUCCESSORS DO NOT LIKE IT THEY WILL BE AT LIBERTY TO AMEND OR REPEAL IT AS THEY SEE FIT,+ HE SAID.
AS THE OUT-GOING SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, SIR ROGER SAID HE COULD SPEAK WITH SOME OBJECTIVITY.
ON THE MOST PERSISTENT CALL FOR THE BILL TO BE DEFERRED, HE HAD HEARD NO ARGUMENTS OF SUBSTANCE FOR THIS STEP.
+THE BILL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL ON MAY 15 AND IS OUR DUTY - THE DUTY OF THE COUNCIL TO DEAL WITH IT.
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+WE ALSO BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE NEW COUNCIL SHOULD KNOW WHERE IT STANDS AND SHOULD HAVE STATUTORY SUPPORT FOR ITS FUNCTIONS FROM THE OUTSET, HE SAID.
ON THE COMMENT THAT THE PRESIDENT'S POWERS UNDER THE BILL WERE TOO WIDE AND TOO STRONG, SIR ROGER SAID THEY WERE IN FACT IN MANY RESPECTS MORE CONSTRAINED THAN THOSE THE PRESIDENT HAD HITHERTO ENJOYED UNDER THE EXISTING STANDING ORDERS.
MOREOVER, THE ARGUMENT PRESUMED THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD NO ROLE TO PLAY.
+THE EXERCISE OF OFFICIAL POWERS WILL ALWAYS BE MONITORED BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.
/+ELECTED MEMBERS