XN000022-1985-10-30 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1985

1.

LEGCO'S MOVE TO NEW HOME SYMBOLIC

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GOVERNOR

THE MOVE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO ITS OWN BUILDING SEPARATE FROM THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, SYMBOLISED THE DISTINCTIVE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATURE IN HONG KONG'S GOVERNMENTAL SYSTEM, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IT WAS A DAY OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT

OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

SPEAKING AT THE UNVEILING CEREMONY FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING, SIR EDWARD SAID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE A HOME OF ITS OWN, WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER UNDER ONE ROOF THE CHAMBER, THE OFFICES OF THE COUNCIL AND OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.

+NEARLY 74 YEARS AGO TODAY, MY DISTINGUISHED PREDECESSOR LORD LUGARD, STOOD ON THIS SPOT AND DECLARED THIS BUILDING OPEN.

+THIS BUILDING HAS SEEN THE STEADY GROWTH OF A LEGAL SYSTEM, FROM ONE APPROPRIATE TO A SMALL COLONY, TO ONE ABLE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF A MODERN, INTERNATIONALLY ORIENTED ECONOMY, AND INCREASINGLY PROSPEROUS AND MATURE COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.

NOW, HE ADDED, IT WAS TO SERVE A NEW AND SIMILARLY IMPORTANT PURPOSE. AFTER MANY YEARS OF SERVICE AS THE HOME OF THE SUPREME COURT, IT WAS TO PROVIDE A FITTING NEW HOME FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SIR EDWARD SAID THAT IMPORTANT PAGES OF HISTORY HAD BEEN WRITTEN IN THE OLD CHAMBER.

+ IT WAS THERE THAT THE LEGISLATURE GREW TO ITS PRESENT FORM AS A BODY IN WHICH ONLY 10 OF ITS 56 MEMBERS ARE TODAY OFFICIALS AND 24 OF ITS MEMBERS ARE ELECTED.

+ IT WAS THERE THAT THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WAS ANNOUNCED.

+1 AM SURE THAT THIS NEW BUILDING WILL BE WITNESS TO EQUALLY HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTS,+ HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR THEN THANKED AND CONGRATULATED THOSE WHO HAD PLAYED A PART IN BRINGING THE SUCCESSFUL PROJECT TO FRUITION, TO MEMBERS OF THE FORMER COUNCIL WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED THEIR TIME AND ADVICE TO THE PLANNING, TO THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE AND THE CONTRACTOR WHO COMPLETED IT ON TIME.

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