WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1987
- 5
MR FORD ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CAREFULLY MONITOR THE SITUATION AND WOULD REVIEW THE PROVISIONS IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.
ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CLAUSES 4 AND 18 OF THE CONTROL OF PUBLICATIONS CONSOLIDATION (AMENDMENT) BILL IN RESPECT OF THE INTERPRETATION OF +NEWSPAPER+, MR FORD SAID THE PROPOSAL HAD TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE OBSERVATIONS MADE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S AD HOC GROUP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON PETER C. WONG.
+THE REVISIONS ARE NOW MUCH CLEARER FOR THOSE WHO NEED TO FIND OUT WHETHER A PUBLICATION IS REGISTRABLE UNDER THE AMENDED ORDINANCE, HE SAID.
MR FORD THANKED THE AD HOC GROUP FOR THEIR COMMENTS ON THE SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.
+THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS IN PRINCIPLE THE VARIOUS POINTS MADE,+ HE SAID.
+APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS WILL BE INCORPORATED IN THE REGULATIONS WHICH WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SOON.+
MOTION TO DEFER BILL OBJECTED ***
THE PACE OF INTRODUCING THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDEMENT) BILL 1986 INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DOES NOT SUGGEST GREAT HASTE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A MOTION BY THE HON SZETO WAH TO DEFER THE SECOND AND THIRD READINGS OF THE BILL, MR FORD SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE CHARGE THAT THE BILL WAS BEING RUSHED THROUGH COULD STAND REAL SCRUTINY.
MR FORD SAID THAT THE BILL WAS-GAZETTED ON DECEMBER 19, 1986 AND FIRST INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 7.
+THIS ADMINISTRATION AGREED TO DEFER THE RESUMPTION OF DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING TWICE, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 21 AND THEN FOR FEBRUARY 18,+ HE SAID,
THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO MET WITH THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP ON THREE OCCASIONS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS.
/IT WAS