XN000022-1976-06-27 — Page 1

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香港政府

GIS 新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1976

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL - ITS WORK AND HISTORY

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL WIND UP ITS CURRENT SESSION IN JUST OVER A MONTH WHEN IT GOES INTO RECESS AFTER ITS MEETING ON AUGUST 4.

A TOTAL OF 24 MEETINGS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE SESSION BEGINNING ON OCTOBER 1, 1975. DURING THE PAST 21 HEETINGS OF THIS SESSION, THE COUNCIL HAS TAKEN NUMEROUS DECISIONS ON NATTERS WHICH WILL HAVE LONG LASTING EFFECTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AND THE WAYS OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE HERE. SO FAR, 79 BILLS HAVE BEEN ENACTED AS LAWS OF HONG KONG COMPARED WITH A TOTAL OF 77 IN THE LAST SESSION, AND 42 MCTIONS ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS HAVE BEEN PASSED. OF THE BILLS PASSED, THE MORE IMPORTANT ONES ARE THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION (AMENDMENT) BILL, THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY BILL, THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES BILL, THE COUNTRY PARKS BILL AND THE APPRENTICESHIP BILL.

THE NOTIONS PASSED INCLUDED THOSE WHICH PAVED THE WAY FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG: THE SETTING OF A RATE OF LEVY ON THE F.0.3. VALUE OF THE CLOTHING ITEMS EXPORTED= AND THE GUARANTEES IN RESPECT OF RE-PAYMENT OF LOANS MADE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION UNDER SPECIFIED FACILITIES.

THE NUMBER OF QUESTIONS RAISED BY UNOFFICIALS SO FAR REACHED 140. AGAIN, THEY WERE ON WIDE-RANGING TOPICS CONCERNING EDUCATION, HOUSING, TRANSPORT, SOCIAL SERVICES, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND MANY OTHERS. THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO BROUGHT UP A NUMBER OF DIVERSE SUBJECTS OF PUBLIC CONCERN DURING ADJOURNMENT DEBATES.

AMONG THE ISSUES DISCUSSED WERE SOCIAL PLANNING AND POPULATION GROWTH THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO CONSUMERS, LICENSED AREAS AND METRICATION.

THE PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL ARE TO ENACT LEGISLATION AND CONTROL EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS. THE PROCEDURE IN THE COUNCIL IS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME AS THAT OF A PARLIAMENT WITH PROVISION FOR PUBLIC DEBATES AND QUESTIONS. ALL BILLS HAVE TO PASS THE FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD READINGS AT THE COUNCIL BEFORE THEY CAN BECOME LAW. DEBATE ON THE GENERAL MERITS AND PRINCIPLES OF A BILL MAY TAKE PLACE WHEN IT 10 HOVED FOR ITS SECOND READING AT THE COUNCIL MEETING. HOWEVER, AMENDMENTS MAY BE MADE IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE BEFORE A BILL CCÏ ́PLETES ITS PASSAGE AT ITS THIRD READING, A BILL PASSED 2Y THE COUNCIL DOES NOT BECOME LAW UNTIL THE GOVERNOR GIVES HIS ASSENT TO IT.

/DURING

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

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