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Its establishment and operation as a parallel legislature before the handover would seriously call into question China's commitment to its obligations under the Joint Declaration, but this will be more than a legal debating point. It raises much more fundamental political questions about China's willingness to follow its own principle, enshrined in the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, of 'Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong"."
The position of the British Government and the Hong Kong Government is therefore a matter of public record. And that will remain our firm and unshakeable position.
End
Motion on Gas Safety (Gas Supply) (Amendment) Regulation 1996
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Stephen Ip, in moving the motion to amend the Gas Safety (Gas Supply) (Amendment) Regulation 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move that the Gas Safety (Gas Supply) (Amendment) Regulation 1996, which was tabled in this Council on 6 November 1996, be amended as set out in the proposed Resolution of the Legislative Council circulated to Members.
The purpose of the proposed amendment is to clarify the wording of the Chinese version of the proposed section 23A(2) to better reflect the policy intention.
The proposed regulation 23A(2) provides that a person who carries out, or permits to be carried out, any works in the vicinity of a gas pipe shall ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to protect the gas pipe from damage arising out of the works that would be likely to prejudice safety. The proposed Resolution clarifies the Chinese wording so as to make clear that it is the "damage" to the gas pipe, rather than the "works" in the vicinity of the gas pipe, that would be likely to prejudice safety.
Mr President, I beg to move.
End