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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994
POWERS AND PRIVILEGES BILL INTRODUCED TO LEGCO
BY
A BILL SEEKING TO EXTEND THE IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES ENJOYED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS TO THE GOVERNOR AND DESIGNATED PUBLIC OFFICERS WHEN THEY ATTEND SITTINGS OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES WAS INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AND
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS PRIVILEGES) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID LEGCO MEMBERS WERE GIVEN IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES TO HELP THEM CARRY OUT THEIR PARLIAMENTARY DUTIES.
THESE INCLUDE THE IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS FOR WORDS SPOKEN BEFORE, OR WRITTEN IN A REPORT TO, THE COUNCIL OR A COMMITTEE; IMMUNITY FROM ARREST FOR ANY CIVIL DEBT WHILST GOING TO, ATTENDING OR RETURNING FROM A SITTING OF THE COUNCIL OR A COMMITTEE AND FOR ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCE WHILST ATTENDING A SITTING OF THR COUNCIL OR A COMMITTEE.
THE GOVERNOR AND BRANCH SECRETARIES USED TO ENJOY SUCH IMMUNITIES WHEN THEY WERE LEGCO MEMBERS.
ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NO LONGER LEGCO MEMBERS, THEY STILL NEED TO ATTEND SITTINGS OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES TO TRANSACT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.
"THEREFORE, WE CONSIDER IT APPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THE ABOVE IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES TO THEM WHEN THEY ATTEND THE SITTINGS OF THE COUNCIL AND ITS COMMITTEES," SHE SAID.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO COVER PROCEEDINGS OF LEGCO PANELS AND SUB-COMMITTEES UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
0
INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT OF WAR GRAVES
A BILL TO ENABLE THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION ΤΟ CONTINUE ITS INDEPENDENT OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ITS CEMETERIES IN HONG KONG WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUBN, SAID THE COMMISSION MAINTAINED TWO WAR CEMETERIES IN THE TERRITORY.
THEY ARE THE SAI WAN CEMETERY AND THE STANLEY MILITARY
CEMETERY.
SINCE 1954,
THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES HAS ACTED AS THE COMMISSION'S AGENT IN RESPECT OF THE DAY-TO-DAY ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS OF THE TWO CEMETERIES.
/MR SUEN
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