WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1988
9
THIRDLY, AND THIS WAS PERHAPS THE MOST
IMPORTANT POINT, THIS LACK OF FLEXIBILITY ON DATES MEANT THAT, WHEN TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH NECESSARY PRE- AND POST-ELECTION MEASURES, THERE WOULD BR NO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR AN UNDESIRABLY LONG TIME.
MR THOMAS SAID IT WAS PROPOSED THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS BR AMENDED TO PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT A DATE FOR THE DISSOLUTION WHICH SHALL BE NOT EARLIER THAN 60 DAYS OR LATER THAN 30 DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRECEDING ELECTION AND LATER STAGE TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION ΤΟ ABRIDGE THE TIME FOR ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY ELECTED MEMBERS,
AT A
HE SAID THAT THESE MEASURES, TAKEN TOGETHER, WOULD REMOVE ALL THE DRAWBACKS MENTIONED,
IF THESE CHANGES WERE ACCEPTABLE, IT WAS LIKELY THE GOVERNOR WOULD APPOINT THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1988 AS THE DATE OF DISSOLUTION OF THE PRESENT COUNCIL AND THE SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS WOULD TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22.
THE NEW COUNCIL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12.
WOULD THEN MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME ON
MR THOMAS SAID THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS WOULD PROVIDE THAT ANY BILL WHICH HAD NOT COMPLETED ALL ITS STAGES THROUGH THE COUNCIL WOULD LAPSE UPON A DISSOLUTION,
THAT
THE
AT PRESENT, THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED CONSIDERATION OF A BILL OR OTHER BUSINESS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED THE TERMINATION OF A SESSION.
BY
"ALTHOUGH IT MAY BE THE CASE THAT THIS PROVISION DOES NOT APPLY TO THE TERMINATION OF THE FINAL SESSION IN THE TERM OF A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEFORE DISSOLUTION, THE POSITION IS NOT AS IT COULD BE,
H
HE SAID.
A3 CLEAR
"THIS MATTER SHOULD BE PUT BEYOND DOUBT BY AMENDINO THE RELEVANT PROVISION IN THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS.
"IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT MEMBERS OF A NEW LEGISLATURE TO PICK UP AND COMPLETE THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF THE OLD." 申申
MR THOMAS SAID THAT THIRDLY, IT WAS PROPOSED ΤΟ DELETE FROM ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS XXV(2) AND XXVII THE REQUIREMENT TO INCLUDE MARGINAL NOTES ALONGSIDE EACH CLAUSE OF AN ORDINANCE.
HE SAID THE NEED FOR NOTES IN THE MARGINS CAUSED SECRETARIAL AND PRINTING DIFFICULTIES, PARTICULARLY IN PRINTING CHINESE TEXTS,
IT WAS PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF USING MARGINAL NOTES BE REPLACED BY THE USE IMMEDIATELY ABOVE EACH CLAUSE OF LEFT MARGIN BOLD HEADINGS. THIS WAS A COMMONLY USED FORM IN LEGISLATION ELSEWHERE.
MR THOMAS SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON MARCH 16 AND 17, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE LETTERS PATENT WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE MADE IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER FOR THE 1988 ELECTIONS TO THE NEXT COUNCIL.
POLICY SET LEGISLATIVE
/10