XN000022-1992-10-14 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992

OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL. 1992 INTRODUCED

A BILL SEEKING то MODERNISE THE WORDING OF THE OATH OF FIDELITY FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCILLORS WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE

BILL. THE CHIEF SECRETARY,

SIR DAVID FORD, SAID THESE CHANGES FOLLOWED SIMILAR AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OATH.

"THE OATH OF FIDELITY IS PRESCRIBED IN PART III OF THE SECOND SCHEDULED TO THE ORDINANCE AND CONTAINS REFERENCE TO 'THIS COLONY' AND 'HER MAJESTY'S EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN THIS COLONY'.'

THE BILL REPEALS THE WORDS "HER WORDS "THIS COLONY" WITH "HONG KONG”.

MAJESTY'S" AND REPLACES THE

HE ALSO SAID THE CHINESE TEXT WAS AMENDED ACCORDINGLY.

AT PRESENT, A PERSON APPOINTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IS REQUIRED, UNDER SECTION 18 OF THE OATHS AND DECLARATIONS ORDINANCE, TO TAKE THE OATH OF FIDELITY AND EITHER THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE OR THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OATH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER HIS OR HER APPOINTMENT.

MOTION ON ELECTION COMMITTEE PASSED IN LEGCO

*

THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY! PASSED A MOTION MOVED BY THE HON JD MCGREGOR ON ELECTION COMMITTEE FOR THE 1995 ELECTIONS.

HOURS

A TOTAL OF NINETEEN COUNCILLORS SPOKE FOR MORE THAN TWO IN THE DEBATE. THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, SPOKE ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT.

TO EFFECT THE DEBATE, THE LEGCO HAS CARRIED A MOTION TO SUSPEND ITS STANDING ORDERS SO AS TO ENABLE MR MCGREGOR TO MOVE THE SUBSEQUENT MOTION. NINE COUNCILLORS SPOKE IN THE FIRST MOTION.

MEANWHILE, TWO BILLS WERE PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS. THEY WERE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING BILL AND BUILDING (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1992.

FOUR WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS AND DEBATES ON THEM WERE ADJOURNED. THEY WERE: OATHS AND DECLARATIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992, AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES BILL, WATERWORKS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992 AND TRAVEL AGENTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1992.

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