XN000022-1991-11-06 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1991

"WE IN THE ADMINISTRATION RECOGNISE THAT SUCH SUPPORT WILL NOT BE FORTHCOMING AS A MATTER OF COURSE, HE SAID.

||

IT WOULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY INVOLVING MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MORE IN THE BUSINESS OF POLICY FORMULATION, SIR DAVID SAID.

LEGCO HAS REAL POWER: CS

* * * * * * *

SECRETARY,

THE HON

SIR DAVID

SAID FORD,

TODAY

THE CHIEF (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CLEARLY HAS REAL POWER.

ADDRESS

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY

POWERS WERE NOT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DAVID SAID THESE CONSTITUTIONAL NICETIES BUT VITAL POWERS AFFECTING THE ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE DAILY LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,

AMEND,

FIRSTLY IT HAD THE POWER TO PASS, CERTAIN CONDITIONS INTRODUCE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS.

THE

REJECT

AND UNDER

THE SECOND MAJOR POWER, SIR DAVID SAID, WAS THE RIGHT TO APPROVE OR REJECT THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS,

HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT SPEND MONEY WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE TAX PAYER'S

"THIS

IS

UNQUESTIONABLY

RESPONSIBLY," HE SAID.

REAL

POWER.

IT HAS TO

BE

USED

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY THESE WERE THE POWERS WHICH ONLY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COULD EXERCISE AND NO ONE ELSE, ADDED.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID WHEN THE GOVERNOR REFERRED TO THE FOR PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IT WAS NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, NOR A THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD LOST THE WILL TO GOVERN OR THAT IT KNOW WHERE IT WAS GOING AS SOME MEMBERS HAD SUGGESted.

THE HE

NEED

AND

SIGNAL DID NOT

REALITY WHICH "IT IS SIMPLY RECOGNITION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL

INTO APPLIES NOW, AND WHICH IS INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH WILL COME EFFECT

UNDER THE BASIC LAW, RECOGNITION THAT THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION, THE EXECUTIVE AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS MUST BE MADE TO WORK IF HONG KONG IS TO CONTINUE TO BE GOVERNED EFFECTIVELY," THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

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