XN000022-1983-07-27 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1983

LEGCO APPROVES CHANGES TO STANDING ORDERS

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A NUMBER OF CHANGES TO THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE APPROVED BY MEMBERS TODAY.

THE CHANGES WERE BASED ON THE REPORT OF A WORKING PARTY WHOSE APPOINTMENT WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LAST OCTOBER.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKING PARTY, SIR EDWARD SAID AT THE TIME, WAS TO REVIEW THE STANDING ORDERS, CONVENTIONS AND PRACTICES OF THIS COUNCIL SO AS TO ACHIEVE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A MORE STRUCTURED PUBLIC DEBATE OF LEGISLATION AND AN EASIER EXCHANGE OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, RESULTING IN A TRUER REFLECTION OF THE COUNCIL'S ESSENTIALLY REPRESENTATIVE ROLE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, IN MOVING THE RESOLUTION TODAY, CITED TWO CHANGES WHICH SHOULD BRING ABOUT A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE+ IN THE WAY THE COUNCIL OPERATES

FIRST, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL MEETING WOULD BE GIVEN THE DISCRETION TO EXTEND THE PERIOD OF 20 MINUTES WITHIN WHICH AN EX-OFFICIO OR AN UNOFFICIAL MUST BE CALLED UPON TO REPLY, AND THE OVERALL PERIOD OF 30 MINUTES WITHIN WHICH THE QUESTION MUST BE PUT TO CONCLUDE THE DEBATE. IT WAS FELT THAT THE PRESENT TIME LIMITS TENDED TO DISCOURAGE DEBATE.

SECOND, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD BE PERMITTED TO SIT IN PUBLIC FOR ITS EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES BEFORE THE APPROPRIATION BILL IS CONSIDERED IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. THE WORKING PARTY FELT THAT THIS STEP WOULD HELP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN GOVERNMENT, AND WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS.

ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE RAISED THE QUORUM OF THE COUNCIL FROM 10 TO 20 TO REFLECT THE GROWTH OF THE COUNCIL'S MEMBERSHIP, MR THOMAS POINTED OUT.

AND, NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO A BILL IN A COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL WOULD BE GIVEN FOUR, INSTEAD OF THREE CLEAR DAYS IN ADVANCE OF THE BILL'S REFERRAL TO THE COMMITTEE.

THIS WOULD PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR PUBLICITY TO BE GIVEN TO PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, AND WOULD BRING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTICE INTO LINE WITH THE PROVISIONS FOR MOTIONS AND QUESTIONS, HE SAID

+ANOTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN HEADLINES BUT SHOULD BE PUT IN CONTEXT WAS THE DELETION OF REFERENCES TO HONG KONG AS A COLONY, HE STRESSED.

/THIS,