XN000022-1990-04-04 — Page 48

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4, 1990

HE ENVISAGED THAT FUTURE LEGISLATORS WOULD FIND THEMSELVES POWERLESS TO CONFRONT THE FORMIDABLE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND WOULD FEEL DEFEATED AS THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR BEING "A REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE PEOPLE" WOULD BE SUBDUED.

"LEGISLATORS WILL NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO INTRODUCE BILLS ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, THE STRUCTURE AND THE OPERATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

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"FURTHER, PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE IS NEEDED BEFORE A BILL ON GOVERNMENT POLICIES CAN BE INTRODUCED, DR LEONG SAID.

DR LEONG ALSO SAID THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAD VIRTUALLY NO POWER TO INVESTIGATE THE ACTS OF THE EXECUTIVE OR IMPEACH THE PRINCIPAL

OFFICERS.

ALSO, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, HIMSELF NOT ELECTED THROUGH INIVERSAL SUFFRAGE, HAD THE POWER TO DISSOLVE THE LEGISLATURE THAT DOES NOT PASS ANY IMPORTANT BILLS INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED.

ON NATIONALITY, DR LEONG SAID THAT THE BASIC LAW HAD SUCCESSFULLY CAST A NET OF RESTRICTIONS OVER FOREIGN PASSPORT HOLDERS.

"THIS WIDE NET OF NATIONALITY RESTRICTION IS OBVIOUSLY CONTRADICTING THE JOINT DECLARATION AS THE LATTER ONLY IMPOSE RESTRICTION ON THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND A HANDFUL OF PRINCIPAL OFFICIALS, HE SAID.

ON THE BILL OF RIGHTS, DR LEONG NOTED THAT CHINA THUMBED DOWN ON ITS LIKELY SUPREMACY OVER ALL LOCAL LAWS, INCLUDING THE BASIC LAW.

HE NOTED THAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS SHOULD HAVE OVERRIDING POWER OVER ALL OTHER HONG KONG LAWS, THOUGH NOT NECESSARILY OVER THE BASIC LAW.

AS MATTERS STAND, DR LEONG HOPED THAT OMELCO MEMBERS WOULD CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO LOBBY FOR A MORE REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT AND TO CONVINCE CHINA THEIR GOOD-WILL INTENTION.

HE ALSO HOPED THAT BRITAIN WOULD HONOUR HER PROMISES ΤΟ HONG KONG BY MAKING IT THRIVE AND PROSPER IN THE LAST YEARS OF HER RULE.

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