FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1988
INDIVIDUALS WHO BENEFITTED WOULD HAVE TO BE PROPERLY REGISTERED ON THE GER AT THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY IF THEY WISHED TO REMAIN ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTORAL ROLL AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 1988 ELECTIONS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT, AS ANNOUNCED EARLIER, THE PROPOSAL WAS MADE FOLLOWING RECEIPT OF REQUESTS FROM ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING PROFESSIONAL BODIES TO BE INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE EXPANDED MEDICAL AND HEALTH CARE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 27. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO COMMENT ON THE BILL SHOULD WRITE TO OMELCO, 8 JACKSON ROAD, HONG KONG OR то THE DEPUTY CHIEF SECRETARY, FIFTH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL.
"WE HOPE THAT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION CAN BE PASSED BEFORE THE FINAL REGISTRATION PERIOD FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS, WHICH RUNS FROM JUNE 17 TO JULY 1," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE AMENDMENT BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICE BY THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ΤΟ REDUCE FROM 30 DAYS то SEVEN DAYS THE PERIOD DURING WHICH SUCH MEMBERS MAY DECIDE NOT TO ACCEPT OFFICE.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS ΤΟ THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS GAZETTED ON APRIL 9 WAS INTENDED то GIVE GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN THE SETTING OF A DATE OF THE DISSOLUTION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
"PRIOR TO THE AMENDMENT THE DISSOLUTION HAD TO TAKE PLACE ON A FIXED DATE (THE 90TH DAY BEFORE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST SITTING OF THE COUNCIL FOLLOWING THE LATEST ELECTION).
"NOT ONLY HAD THIS ARRANGEMENT BEEN FOUND UNDULY RIGID, BUT, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, IT WOULD HAVE ENTAILED AN UNACCEPTABLY LONG DISSOLUTION OF NEARLY THREE MONTHS,
** THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE AMENDMENT TO THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS PERMITS THE GOVERNOR TO CHOOSE A DAY FOR THE DISSOLUTION OF BETWEEN 30 AND 60 DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE LATEST ELECTION.
"THE PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE FOR AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE UNLESS NON-ACCEPTANCE IS NOTIFIED то THE GOVERNOR WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF PUBLICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS IN THE GAZETTE, WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO KEEP TO THIS TIMETABLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
H
(ELECTORAL PROVISIONS)
ORDINANCE
NECESSARY
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (AMENDMENT OF SCHEDULES) ORDER 1988 ALSO GAZETTED TODAY WAS MADE FOLLOWING THE PRIVY COUNCIL'S APPROVAL ΤΟ MAKE THE AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE VI OF THE LETTERS PATENT.
/THE AMENDMENT