XN000022-1985-04-03 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1985

+DUE TO THE TIME CONSTRAINT, SUCH PROPOSED GUIDELINES

CANNOT BE INCLUDED IN THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY, BUT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO INCLUDING SUCH GUIDELINES IN THE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE LATER OR THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE GOVERNING THE CONDUCT OF THE ELECTIONS INCLUDING THE APPROVAL OF CANDIDATES.+

MR CHEONG SAID ALL FOUR ORGANISATIONS WERE WORKING TOWARDS PREPARING GUIDELINES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL DIVISIONS OF THE TWO FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES.

THE COMMON OBJECTIVE WAS TO REQUIRE A CANDIDATE TO SHOW THAT HE HAD A RECORD OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANISATIONS AND TO HONG KONG'S COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY.

+HE COULD IDENTIFY SUCH A RECORD THROUGH HIS ELECTION, TO THE GENERAL COMMITTEES OF THE FOUR ORGANISATIONS, AND/OR BY SERVICE ON THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, BY MEMBERSHIP OF THE VARIOUS STATUTORY OR NON-STATUTORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES LISTED IN THE CIVIL LIST, OR BY HIS MEMBERSHIP OF THE ORGANISATIONS' INTERNAL COMMITTEES.

+SUCH CRITERIA, IF ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND INCLUDED IN THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF CANDIDATES FOR THE FOUR CONSTITUENCIES, WILL GO A LONG WAY TO ENSURE THAT ALL CANDIDATES APPROVED BY THE REGISTRATION OFFICER TO STAND FOR ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE RESPECTIVE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY, MR CHEONG SAID.

DISQUALIFICATION CLAUSE WELCOMED

*****

A NEW CLAUSE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) BILL 1985 THAT A PERSON OF UNSOUND MIND WOULD BE DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING NOMINATED AS A CANDIDATE AND FROM HOLDING OFFICE AS AN ELECTED MEMBER WAS WELCOMED BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), DR IP SAID CONSIDERING THAT UNDER CLAUSE 15(2)(B) A PERSON SHOULD BE DISQUALIFIED AS A VOTER IF HE WAS ALLEGED TO BE A MENTALLY DISORDERED PERSON UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ORDINANCE WHERE THE COURT HAD DECIDED THAT HE WAS OF UNSOUND MIND AND INCAPABLE OF MANAGING HIMSELF AND HIS OWN AFFAIRS IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY THAT AN EQUIVALENT PROVISION DID NOT APPEAR UNDER CLAUSE 21, AS A GROUND FOR DISQUALIFICATION OF CANDIDATURE OR FOR HOLDING OFFICE AS A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER.

+AFTER ALL, IT MUST BE MORE IMPORTANT TO HAVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WITH SOUND MIND AND JUDGEMENT TO ADVISE ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS BE THEY ELECTED MEMBERS OR APPOINTED MEMBERS.

+ALSO TH