2
I
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1994
PLEASED
DEALING
FOR ΤΟ
TURNING NOW TO DEVELOPMENTS CLOSER TO HOME, I WAS VERY ΤΟ SEE
LEGISLATION THAT THIS COUNCIL LAST NIGHT PASSED THE WITH THE LESS CONTROVERSIAL ELEMENTS RELATING TO THE ARRANGEMENTS THE ELECTIONS IN 1994 AND 1995. THIS WAS THE SECOND BILL RELATING THE 1994 AND 1995 ELECTIONS WHICH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS NOW PASSED. AFTER WE FIRST PUT FORWARD PROPOSALS IN OCTOBER 1992, WE MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WERE KEEN TO DISCUSS THEM WITH THE CHINESE SIDE. UNFORTUNATELY TALKS DID NOT BEGIN BEFORE WE HAD TO LEGISLATE ON THE BOUNDARY AND ELECTION COMMISSION. THAT BODY IS NOW ESTABLISHED AND DOING VERY GOOD WORK. TALKS DID BEGIN IN APRIL 1993, BUT REGRETTABLY IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO REACH AGREEMENT BEFORE TIME PRESSURES MEANT HAD TO PRESS ON WITH THE NEXT STAGE OF LEGISLATION, WHICH THE COUNCIL HAS JUST PASSED. THE VOTING AGE AND VOTING METHOD FOR ALL 3 TIERS OF ELECTION ARE NOW AGREED. SO TOO THE ABOLITION OF APPOINTED MEMBERSHIP OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS. THIS MEANS THAT WE NOW HAVE A PROPORTION OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IN PLACE, AND ARE READY TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE.
WE
THE FACT THAT THIS LEGISLATION - THE LESS CONTROVERSIAL PART HAS TAKEN SOME TWO AND A HALF MONTHS TO PASS THROUGH THIS COUNCIL UNDERLINES HOW FINE WE HAVE BEEN CUTTING THINGS. WE NOW HAVE ONLY 4 MONTHS LEFT IN WHICH TO PASS THE REMAINING LEGISLATION. WE NEED ΤΟ HAVE
THAT THROUGH BY THE TIME THIS COUNCIL RISES IN JULY; IT IS OUR FIRM AIM TO DO SO.
WE HAD HOPED THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE TALKS WITH CHINA TO RESUME. WE HAVE SINCE LAST NOVEMBER REPEATEDLY ASKED THE CHINESE TO CONTINUE TALKS ON THE OUTSTANDING ISSUES. THERE HAVE BEEN INNUMERABLE SUCH REQUESTS ON DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS; INCLUDING A MESSAGE FROM THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TO THE CHINESE PREMIER. AS YOU KNOW, CHINA WAS ONLY WILLING TO DO SO ON CONDITION THAT THE FIRST-STAGE BILL WAS WITHDRAWN. THAT WAS NOT POSSIBLE. TIME IS NOW PRESSING IF WE ARE TO HAVE THE LEGISLATION THROUGH IN TIME TO ENABLE US TO HOLD ELECTIONS IN GOOD ORDER AND ON SCHEDULE.
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WE THEREFORE NEED NOW TO PROCEED WITH THE THIRD BILL WITHOUT DELAY. WE INTEND TO GAZETTE THE REMAINING LEGISLATION - THAT DEALING WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ELECTION COMMITTEE AND FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES TOMORROW, 25 FEBRUARY, AND TO INTRODUCE IT INTO THIS COUNCIL ON 9 MARCH. THIS DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN FOLLOWING FULL CONSULTATION WITH THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND WITH MINISTERS, WHO AGREE WITH THIS APPROACH.
IT WILL
THE LEGISLATION WHICH WE WILL PUBLISH TOMORROW WILL CONTAIN IN LEGISLATIVE FORM THE PROPOSALS WHICH I PUT FORWARD IN OCTOBER 1992 FOR IT WILL PROPOSE THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES AND ELECTION. COMMITTEE. AN ELECTION COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS. PROPOSE THAT THE 9 NEW PUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ENVISAGED UNDER THE BASIC LAW SHOULD BE MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF THE ENTIRE WORKFORCE; AND IT WILL PROPOSE THE ABOLITION OF CORPORATE VOTING IN EXISTING FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.
/MEMBERS WILL