XN000022-1976-04-28 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY APRIL 28, 1976

CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE

APPLIES TO HEUNG YEE KUK

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ADOPTED A MOTION THAT THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE SHOULD APPLY TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND TO ANY ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK,

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID THAT THE HEUNG YEE KUK IS A STATUTORY BODY WHICH HAS AMONGST ITS OBJECTS THE PROMOTION OF CO-OPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ITS PRINCIPAL FUNCTION IS TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WELFARE AND PROSPERITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES+.

HE SAID: +IT IS CLEARLY DESIRABLE THAT THE ELECTION FOR THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES IN THIS IMPORTANT PUBLIC BODY SHOULD NOT ONLY BE HONEST AND FREE FROM CORRUPTION, BUT SHOULD BE SEEN TO BE SO.+

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT, AT PRESENT, THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES ORDINANCE APPLIES ONLY TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS AND IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT IT SHOULD NOW BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE HEUNG YEE KUK ELECTIONS, WHICH WERE THE ONLY OTHER STATUTORY ELECTIONS FOR A PUBLIC BODY IN HONG KONG.

BILLS PASSED

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FIVE BILLS INCLUDING THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1976 WHICH LAYS DOWN HONG KONG'S FISCAL POLICIES FOR THE CURRENT YEAR, PASSED THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE OTHER BILLS PASSED ARE THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BILL 1976, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976, THE AERIAL ROPEWAYS (SAFETY) BILL 1976, AND THE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

FIVE OTHER BILLS WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING. THEY ARE THE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL PRACTICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, AND THE PROBATION OF OFFENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

DEBATE ON THEIR SECOND READING WAS ADJOURNED. DEBATE RESUMED ON THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

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