XN000022-1985-06-12 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1985

LEGISLATING FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND STRONG LEGCO ESSENTIAL

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THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SECOND READING ON THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE AND MERITS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL IS MADE NOT OUT OF INSENSITIVITY TO PUBLIC OPINION, BUT OUT OF DETERMINATION TO FIRMLY STEER THE BILL THROUGH THE DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS AND BALANCE ON JUDGEMENT BETWEEN LEGISLATING FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND STRONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ACCOMMODATING THE CONCERNS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA OVER THEIR FREEDOMS.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE HON MARIA TAM, CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE BILL, WHEN LEADING THE UNOFFICIALS' DEBATE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MUST BE ABLE TO EXERCISE ITS JUDGEMENT AND AUTHORITY AS DECISION MAKERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE BY GRASPING THE ISSUES BEFORE IT. ANALYSE AND DEAL WITH THEM WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE THAT THE DECISION IS MADE IN THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC AT LARGE,+ SHE SAID.

+AND THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO BE SERVED BY A LEGISLATURE BUTTRESSED BY LEGISLATION WHICH GIVES A FIRM CONTROL OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF ITS OWN AFFAIRS, EFFECTIVE INVESTIGATORY POWERS AND AS MUCH POWERS AND PRIVILEGES AND RESPECT WHICH THE COURTS OF LAW ENJOY IN THIS TERRITORY, + SHE ADDED.

+

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT DECLARATION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS RATIFIED ON MAY 27, 1985 AND WE HAD MOVED INTO THE 'TRANSITIONAL PERIOD”.

IN FOUR MONTHS' TIME THERE WOULD BE 24 ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG JOINING THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND IN 12 YEARS' TIME THIS TERRITORY WOULD BE GOVERNED BY AN ELECTED LEGISLATURE, SHE SAID.

+BY THEN IT WILL NEITHER BE APPROPRIATE NOR POSSIBLE FOR THE SAR GOVERNMENT TO LOOK TO WESTMINSTER AND SEEK REFERENCE TO ITS PARLIAMENTARY PRACTICES ON HOW TO MANAGE THE AFFAIRS OF THE HONG KONG LEGISLATURE.

+ IT WILL BE NECESSARY THEREFORE TO ENACT OUR OWN RULES, MISS TAM SAID.

+

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO ENACT SUCH RULES IN HONG KONG BY AN ORDINANCE AND AN AD HOC GROUP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS FORMED TO CONSIDER ITS PROVISIONS.

/+THIS BILL