TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1992
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ON CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MEMBERS KNOW THAT I PROPOSE ΤΟ PUT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR BREAK, WHICH IS LIKELY ΤΟ MBAN BEFORE THE END OF FEBRUARY. THE PRECISE SHAPE AND DETAIL OF THE DRAFT LEGISLATION WILL BE DECIDED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
I AM, OF COURSE, AWARE THAT MANY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE COME UNDER CONSIDERABLE PERSONAL PRESSURE OVER THESE AND RELATED MATTERS. I KNOW THAT MEMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO BE GUIDED BY THEIR OWN JUDGMENT OF WHAT IS BEST FOR HONG KONG AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. THAT IS HOW IT SHOULD BE.
I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE CHINESE SIDE HAVE THUS FAR BEEN UNWILLING TO ACCEPT MY OFFER OF DISCUSSIONS, OR TO PUT FORWARD THEIR OWN IDEAS. MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLING FOR A RETURN TO SENSIBLE • RATIONAL DIALOGUE. 1 HEARTILY ENDORSE THAT CALL. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ENCOURAGE THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO DO JUST THAT.
THERE IS CERTAINLY NO UNWILLINGNESS ON MY PART TO ENTER SUCH A DIALOGUE.
WORLD,
AT THE END OF THE DAY, VIEWED FROM THE OUTSIDE 17 IS PLAIN THAT HONG KONG AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION ARE VIRTUALLY THE ONLY GROWTH AREAS IN THE WORLD TODAY.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DO ALL IT CAN TO MAINTAIN BOTH THIS GROWTH AND THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF THIS TERRITORY.
LOOK FORWARD TU SUPPORT FROM THIS COUNCIL AS WE CONTINUE OUR ENDEAVOURS ON BEHALF THE PEOPLE WHOM WE ALL SERVE.
WE
OF
I'M SURE THAT HONOURABLE MEMBERS MAY HAVE QUESTIONS WHAT I HAVE JUST SAID, OR CONCEIVABLY ON OTHER MATTERS.
ON
PHIM PHI-CHUNG:
MR PRESIDENT, COULD I ASK YOU TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU ALLOW MEMBERS TO ASK QUESTIONS, SO THAT ALL MEMBERS SITTING HERE WOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS? THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF DEMOCRACY.
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GOVERNOR:
I'M DELIGHTED TO ENCOURAGE THE HONOURABLE MEMBER TO THE CLUB. I'M AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THE PRECISE ARRANGEMENTS FOR QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSIONS SUCH AS THIS WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGES TO STANDING ORDERS WHICH I HOPE WILL BE SECURED VERY SOON. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I DON'T, MYSELF, REGARD IT AS DESIRABLE THAT THE PERSON WHO ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS SHOULD CHOOSE WHO ASKS THE QUESTIONS AND T VERY MUCHL HOPE THAT' WHEN THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS IT'S REVISION OF STANDING ORDERS, IT WILL ENSURE THAT THAT ONEROUS RESPONSIBILITY IS LIFTED FROM THE SHOULDERS OF THE GOVERNOR. THIS IS THE LAST TIME THAT I'LL BE ANSWERING QUESTIONS THIS YEAR - I IMAGINE J HOPE THAT IN THE NEW YEAR WE'LL HAVE NEW STANDING ORDERS, OR SHORTLY AFTER THE NEW YEAR, AND THAT THOSE ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE SATISFACTORY TO ALL HONOURABLE MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE HONOURABLE MEMBER WHO PUT THAT POINT OF ORDER. I DON'T HAVE, I'M AFRAID, THE WHOLE OF THE AFTERNOON, BUT I WILL ATTEMPT AS I HAVE BEFORE, TO SPEND FOUR TIMES AS LONG ANSWERING QUESTIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS THE PRIME MINISTER WOULD IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
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THANK YOU, GOVERNOR.
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LEONG CHE-HUNG:
AS I'M GIVEN THE FIRST CHANCE TO ASK A QUESTION I HAVE TO SAY THAT I'M SURE MY COLLEAGUES WILL
AGREE WITH ME THAT IF IT IS YOUR CHOICE, YOU WILL BE WELCOME TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AGAIN WITHIN THIS YEAR.
MORE THAN
/SIR, IN