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Governor's question-and-answer session
Following is the transcript of the Governor, the Rt Hon Christopher Patten's question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
President (in Chinese): Will members please remain standing until the Governor has come into this chamber. The Governor of Hong Kong. The Governor will answer questions on the three topics which have been notified to members. A member who has asked a question and received a reply, may, for the purpose of seeking elucidation only, ask a short follow-up question. The three topics are: human rights, housing and services for the elderly and new immigrants. A show of hands please.
Mr Lau Chin-shek (in Chinese): I would like to know whether the Government would continue to review existing legislation in order to determine whether these Ordinances are in breach of the Bill of Rights Ordinance and whether they should be amended because of that? And, whether the Government will, before the end of its term, submit new Amendment Bills to this Council?
Governor: We have almost completed our review of Ordinances. There are one or two other Ordinances that we have been looking at, for example, the Telecommunications Ordinance following the proposals of the Law Reform Commission. I have said again and again to this Council that it was our determination to make sure that we place before the Council before June 30, proposals which would ensure that our statute book was in line with the Bill of Rights. I haven't changed my position and the Government hasn't changed its position on that, so we may be requiring even more work from the Legislative Council in the future.
Mr Lau Chin-shek (in Chinese): In his reply the Governor mentioned the Telecommunications Ordinance. I would like to hear a little bit more from him, say about the independent police complaint mechanism and the relevant legislation, and whether anti-discrimination legislation will also be considered by the Government to this effect?
Governor: Let me distinguish between those issues. First of all on legislation on discrimination, the honourable gentleman will know that we already have in place. legislation dealing with discrimination against people on the grounds of gender, he will know that we have legislation in place against discrimination on the grounds of disability, and he will know that we are acting, as well, on discrimination on family responsibilities. On all those issues we are legislating and we are asking the Equal Opportunities Commission to cover those questions as part of its responsibilities.