XN000022-1986-11-21 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1986

BILLS SEEK AUTHENTIC BILINGUAL VERSIONS OF LAW

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TWO BILLS WHICH WILPAVE THE WAY FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AUTHENTIC VERSIONS OF THE LAW IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE TWO BILLS, KNOWN AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 AND THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1986, AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCES UNDER WHICH LEGISLATION ENACTED IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN IN ENGLISH ONLY.

THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL PROVIDES FOR THE ENACTMENT OF NEW LEGISLATION IN CHINESE AS WELL AS IN ENGLISH, AND FOR THE PUBLICATION OF AUTHENTIC TEXTS IN CHINESE OF LAWS ENACTED IN ENGLISH.

+SUCH PUBLICATION WILL BE AUTHORISED BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ACTING AFTER CONSULTATION WITH A BILINGUAL LAWS ADVISORY COMMITTEE,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE BILL REQUIRES NEW PRINCIPAL LEGISLATION, BUT NOT BILLS AMENDING ORDINANCES WHICH WERE ENACTED ONLY IN ENGLISH, TO BE IN BOTH LANGUAGES. THIS REQUIREMENT DID NOT APPLY IN THE CASE OF BILLS WHICH THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL DETERMINED WERE URGENT.

BUT IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT WHERE AN ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ONLY UNDER THE URGENCY+ PROVISION, A TEXT IN THE OTHER OFFICIAL LANGUAGE SHOULD BE PUBLISHED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, HE ADDED.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BILINGUAL LAWS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN LINE WITH VIEWS EXPRESSED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS IN AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON THE LAWS OR CHINESE HELD IN JULY.

THE COMMITTEE SHALL CONSIST OF A CHAIRMAN AND OTHER MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, INCLUDING A LEGAL OFFICER, A PRACTISING SOLICITOR, A PRACTISING BARRISTER AND NOT LESS THAN TWO PERSONS WITH APPROPRIATE LANGUAGE SKILLS WHO ARE NOT PUBLIC OFFICERS.

THE BILL PROPOSES THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL BE GIVEN POWERS TO CORRECT ERRORS IN THE NEW AUTHENTIC TEXT PUBLISHED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY AMEND THE EXISTING TEXT IN THE OTHER LANGUAGE, WITHOUT AFFECTING ITS MEANING, TO ENSURE ITS HARMONISATION WITH THE NEW TEXT IN THE OTHER OFFICIAL LANGUAGE.

THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL PROVIDES FOR THE INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION TO HE PUBLISHED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE BY VIRTUE OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL.

/THE SPOKESMAN ******