WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1994
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GIVEN THE LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF BILINGUAL GOVERNMENT LAWYERS, PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO THE DRAFTING OF BILINGUAL LAWS AND TO THE LAW TRANSLATION PROGRAMME. EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE TO HAVE THE CHINESE TEXTS OF ALL EXISTING LAWS AUTHENTICATED BY 1997. ONCE THE AUTHENTIC CHINESE VERSIONS OF THE LAWS, AND THUS CHINESE LEGAL TERMS BECOME AVAILABLE, WE WOULD BE WELL PLACED TO PREPARE DOCUMENTS WITH LEGALLY BINDING EFFECT BILINGUALLY.
OF
SINCE THE BASIC LAW PROVIDES THAT IN ADDITION TO CHINESE, ENGLISH MAY ALSO BE USED AS AN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE BY THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES, LEGISLATURE AND JUDICIARY
THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION, THE MAINTENANCE OF THE USE OF ENGLISH FOR SUCH DOCUMENTS SHOULD NOT AFFECT THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE FUTURE SAR GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY WILL BE IN BILINGUAL FORM WHEN RESOURCES PERMIT.
MOTION ON FAMILY POLICY AND JUVENILE CRIME PASSED
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED TWO MOTIONS ONE ON FAMILY POLICY AND THE OTHER ON JUVENILE CRIME.
POLICY PROPOSED
FOR
COUNCIL MEMBERS SPOKE ON THE MOTION ON FAMILY BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, FOLLOWED BY REPLIES FROM THE SECRETARY HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS KATHERINE FOK, AND THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR CANICE MAK.
THE OTHER MOTION ON JUVENILE CRIME WAS PROPOSED BY THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW AND REPLIES WERE GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, AFTER MEMBERS DEBATED ON IT.
DURING THE SITTING, THREE BILLS WERE PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS. THEY WERE THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994.
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ALSO PASSED WERE TWO PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILLS THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE (TRANSFER OF HONG KONG IMMOVABLE PROPERTY) BILL MOVED BY THE HON JAMES TO AND THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 MOVED BY THE HON PETER WONG.
IN ADDITION, FOUR BILLS INCLUDING ONE PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. THESE BILLS WERE THE FILM CENSORSHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 MOVED BY THE HON MARTIN
LEE, THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL TITLES BILL AND THE MEDICAL AND RELATED PROFESSIONALS MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) BILL 1994.
1994, THE LAND (REGISTRATION