XN000022-1985-08-07 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7, 1985

MOMENTOUS SESSION FOR LEGCO SIR DAVID

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IT HAD BEEN A MOMENTOUS SESSION FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID AT THE CLOSING OF THE 1984/85 SESSION TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID THERE COULD HAVE BEEN NO MORE IMPORTANT DELIBERATION IN THE HISTORY OF THIS CHAMBER, AND FOR THAT MATTER OF HONG KONG, THAN THAT AT WHICH THE VERY FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS DEBATED IN OCTOBER AND AT WHICH THE DRAFT JOINT DECLARATION AND AGREEMENT RECEIVED UNANIMOUS SUPPORT.

+LATER IN DECEMBER, AFTER THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION ON AN HISTORIC OCCASION, THE PRIME MINISTER THE RIGHT HONOURABLE MRS MARGARET THATCHER ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID.

HE NOTED THAT DURING THE PAST YEAR, THE RANGE OF DEBATES IN THE COUNCIL REPRESENTED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG AND THE COMPLEXITY OF MATTERS - SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL - AND THE LAWS SURROUNDING THÊM.

+THE CRUDE STATISTICS OF THE SESSION OF 26 SITTINGS - 83 BILLS, 43 RESOLUTIONS, 179 QUESTIONS – DO NOT DO JUSTICE TO THIS EVOLUTION IN THE WORK AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS THE LAST SESSION HELD IN THIS CHAMBER, WHICH WAS FIRST USED IN 1957, REPLACING THE CHAMBER IN THE OLD CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

THE FIRST SITTING OF THE 1985-86 SESSION WILL BE ON OCTOBER 30 WHEN THE COUNCIL ASSEMBLES IN ITS OWN DIGNIFIED AND INDEPENDENT BUILDING IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEW SESSION, SIR DAVID SAID: +WE HAVE MANY TASKS AHEAD AND NONE GREATER THAN THAT WHICH DEVOLVES UPON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF CONTINUING AND DEVELOPING THE SYSTEM OF LAW, SO THAT IT MAY SERVE HONG KONG WELL NOT ONLY TODAY BUT IN THE MANY YEARS AHEAD.+

HE PAID TRIBUTE TO HONOURABLE MEMBERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND FOR ALL THAT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED DURING THIS SESSION OF THE COUNCIL.

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