XN000022-1985-06-15 — Page 2

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1985

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LEGCO BILL TIME FOR CALM CONSIDERATION

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IT IS TIME THERE WAS A PERIOD OF CALM CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.

+THERE WAS A VERY GOOD DEBATE ON WEDNESDAY AND THE AMENDED BILL HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, AND I THINK THE THING TO DO NOW IS WHAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SAID, THAT IS, HAVE A CAREFUL LOOK AT THE BILL AS IT NOW STANDS, HE SAID.

SIR EDWARD WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM A REPORTER AFTER ATTENDING THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION SPORTS PROGRAMME AT MORSE PARK.

ASKED TO COMMENT ON CALLS BY SOME CRITICS THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE COMPLETELY REWRITTEN, HE SAID, THE BILL HAS ONLY JUST BEEN GAZETTED AGAIN, AND IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT BILL. SO WHY NOT HAVE A LOOK AT IT. +

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHETHER THE THIRD READING OF THE BILL WOULD BE DEFERRED, THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL WAS NOW WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+WHAT THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE SAID VERY SENSIBLY IS LOOK AT THE BILL. AND I THINK THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO TAKE IT-STEP BY STEP.+

ASKED WHETHER IT WAS +INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE HEAD OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO GIVE HIS PERSONAL BACKING TO A CONTROVERSIAL BILL LIKE THE LEGCO BILL+, SIR EDWARD SAID, +1 AM THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG, AND MY RESPONSIBILITY IS THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG, AND THAT'S A RESPONSIBILITY WHICH ANY GOVERNOR HAS TO TAKE.

+BUT THE BILL IS NOW WITH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IT

IS NOT WITH ME.+

ON THE OVERSEAS TRUST BANK ISSUE, SIR EDWARD SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD MOVED VERY QUICKLY.

+ THE OTB IS NOW OPERATING NORMALLY, AND THE SITUATION IS STILL AS IT WAS WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT THE OBJECT

OF GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO DO ALL WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE STABILITY AND THE REPUTATION OF THE HONG KONG BANKING SYSTEM.

+I THINK THAT POLICY HAS VERY CLEARLY BEEN SHOWN OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS, HE SAID.

ON HIS VISIT TO THE CELEBRATION SPORTS PROGRAMME THIS MORNING, SIR EDWARD SAID HE HAD BEEN VERY TEMPTED TO STAY AND JOIN IN SOME OF THE COMPETITIONS.

+I THINK PARACHUTING WOULD BE A LITTLE BEYOND ME, BUT I MAY MANAGE SOME OF THE SWIMMING COMPETITIONS.

+ IF YOU WILL GET TOGETHER A TEAM, I MIGHT BE EVEN MORE TEMPTED, HE SAID.

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