XN000022-1985-06-26 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 1985

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AMENDMENTS TO TWO CLAUSES MOVED

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AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSES 16 AND 19(A) AND (B) OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL WERE MOVED BY THE HON MRS PAULINE NG DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SHE PROPOSED THAT CLAUSE 16 CONCERNING THE LIMITATION ON PRIVILEGE AGAINST INCRIMINATION OF SELF OR SPOUSE BE AMENDED, THE ORIGINAL WORDING OF WHICH SHE SAID MIGHT GIVE PEOPLE THE WRONG IMPRESSION THAT THE WITNESS GIVING EVIDENCE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ENJOYED IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION.

+THIS PROVISION IS NOW AMENDED ALONG THE LINES OF SECTION 44A

OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE,+ SHE SAID.

APART FROM MOVING THAT CLAUSE 19(A) BE DELETED, MRS NG SAID THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, WHEN COMMENTING ON CLAUSE 19(B), HAD INDICATED THAT THE REGARD + INSULTS+ OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS BY THE PUBLIC AS CRIMINAL OFFENCES WAS LIKELY TO HAMPER FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN HONG KONG.

SHE AGREED WITH THIS COMMENT, AND ACCORDINGLY MOVED THAT CLAUSE 19(B) BE AMENDED SO AS TO DELETE THE WORD + INSULT+ FROM THE CLAUSE.

+ IN ADDITION, THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION IS OF THE OPINION THAT THE MEANING OF THE WORDS OR EXPECTED TO BE BROUGHT' IN CLAUSE 19(B) IS AMBIGUOUS.

+1 ALSO AGREE WITH THIS COMMENT, AND THEREFORE PROPOSE THAT THE WORDS BE DELETED FROM THIS PROVISION, SHE SAID.

REGIONAL COUNCIL DETAILS SET OUT IN BILL

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THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, LIKE ITS URBAN COUNTERPART, WOULD BE A FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS EXECUTIVE BODY WITH LEGAL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING SERVICES RELATING TO PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION, HYGIENE, RECREATION AND CULTURE OUTSIDE THE ELECTORAL JURISDICTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.

ITS FUNCTIONS WOULD THUS BE DISTINCT FROM THOSE OF THE

THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS, CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE