XN000022-1985-06-12 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 1985

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THESE AMENDMENTS IN FACT DEALT WITH 90 PER CENT OF THE COMPLAINTS WHICH WAS REPEATED BY VARIOUS GROUPS, THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND THE NEWS MEDIA ON THE EIGHT DAYS TO FOLLOW, WHICH ON JUNE 10 AND 11 HAD DEVELOPED INTO A STRONG DEMAND TO DEFER THE SECOND READING.

HAVING EXPLAINED THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SECOND READING, MISS TAM SET OUT THE AMENDMENTS WHICH THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE ASKED FOR IN ANSWER TO PUBLIC CRITICISM TO THE BILL:

(1) ON CLAUSE 8 TO THE EFFECT THAT SITTING OF THE

COUNCIL SHALL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS, WHICH HAS TO BE PUBLICISED IN FORM OF ORDERS;

(2) ON CLAUSE 13 TO RESTRICT THE PRESIDENT'S POWER

TO CALL FOR EVIDENCE ONLY WHEN IT IS LAWFUL AND RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE ;

(3) ON CLAUSE 14 TO GIVE FURTHER PROTECTIONS TO A WITNESS FROM INCRIMINATION OF SELF OR SPOUSE I

(4) CLAUSE 15 TO ALLOW FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE

PRACTICE OF THE COMMITTEE OR THE COUNCIL AND THE PRESIDENT'S POWER IN THE DETERMINATION OF QUESTIONS TO BE PUT TO THE WITNESSES BY VIRTUE OF ANY RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL ;

(5) CLAUSE 16 TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WITNESS' PRIVILEGE

AGAINST INCRIMINATION OF SELF OR SPOUSE; AND AMEND IT BY PUTTING IN AN EQUIVALENT SECTION TO SECTION 44A OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE CAP. 4; AND TO THE EFFECT THAT THE EVIDENCE HE HAS GIVEN BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE INADMISSIBLE AGAINST HIM;

(6) DELETION OF CLAUSE 17(D) THE OFFENCE OF INTENTIONAL

DISRESPECT}

(7) DELETION OF CLAUSE 19(A) WHICH CAN BE COVERED BY

SECTION 4 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE =

(8) CLAUSE 20 BY DELETING IT FROM THIS BILL BUT TO

EXPLORE OTHER APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO PROTECT FROM DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS OF CLOSED DOOR MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL OR COMMITTEE: AND

(9) CLAUSE 24 WHICH AT THE MOMENT EXCLUDES THE

JURISDICTION OF THE COURT IN RESPECT OF THE ACTS OF THE COUNCIL, THE PRESIDENT OR THE OFFICERS.

SHE SAID HER COLLEAGUES WHO WERE GOING TO SPEAK ON THIS BILL OR OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS TO AMENDMENTS WOULD GIVE HIS OR HER REASONS.

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