XN000022-1988-02-10 — Page 11

1

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1988

SHE NOTED THAT THERE WAS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT WHICH ADVOCATED NO LINK AT ALL BETWEEN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD NO DOURT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEBATE AT LENGTH THE PROS AND CONS.

SHE SAID THERE WAS NO REALLY VALID REASON TO BLOCK THE PASSAGE OF A BILL. AIMING TO LIBERALISE.

IF AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REJECTED THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL, AND THE EX-OFFICIO LINK WAS RETAINED, THEN THE RESERVATIONS AND CONCERNS OF THOSE WHO OPPOSED THE BILL WOULD EVAPORATE, SHE SAID.

H

IF THIS COUNCIL EVENTUALLY SUPPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSAL, THEN IT IS FAR BETTER ΤΟ HAVE THIS BILL TO ALLOW FLEXIBILITY FOR URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, THAN TO HAVE NO BILL AT ALL. SHE ADDED.

++

MRS FAN CONCLUDED BY SAYING THAT THE LACK OF TIME FOR URBAN COUNCILLORS TO PLAN FOR THEIR CANDIDACY IN DISTRICT BOARDS WAS NOTED WITH REGRET, AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPLAIN PUBLICLY THE REASON FOR THE APPARENT LATENESS OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE BILL.

INTRODUCTION OF ELECTORAL PROVISIONS BILL, ILL-TIMED'

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (AMENDMENT} BILL 1988, UNDER WHICH A PERSON MAY SERVE BOTH AS AN ELECTED MEMBER OF THE URBAN COUNCIL AND AS AN ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER IN THE URBAN COUNCIL AREA, IS CONSIDERED ILL-TIMED.

THE CONVENER OF THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, THE HON F.K. HU, SAID THIS IN THE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MEASURE.

HOWEVER, HE SAID HE SUPPORTED THE BILL BECAUSE DEFERRING IT WOULD ONLY CAUSE MORE COMPLICATIONS.

MR HU SAID THE BILL HAD CAUSED MUCH CONTROVERSY, AND EVEN THOSE WHO FAVOURED THE MEASURE HAD BEEN UNABLE TO FIND A KIND WORD FOR ITS TIMING.

HE SAID HE WAS NOT CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS MAKE CHANGES AT THIS STAGE, JUST BEFORE A DECISION REVIEW WAS REACHED.

ANY URGENT NEED TO ON THE POLITICAL

THE PROPER