XN000022-1992-10-23 — Page 16

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1992

GOVT-LEGCO COMMITTED A FORUM FOR DISCUSSIONS

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A

THE IDEA OF THE GOVERNMENT-LEGCO COMMITTEE WAS TO PROVIDE FORUM WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS WITH MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL, THE PRIORITIES FOR LEGISLATION, UP-COMING MOTIONS, AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID

FORD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH MEMBERS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE SUBJECT, SIR DAVID SAID:

OF THE

"I SAID THAT WE WERE FAIRLY RELAXED ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT MIGHT BE ON THE COMMITTEE, AND I THINK MEMBERS FELT THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO SELECT MEMBERSHIP OF THIS COMMITTEE FROM WITHIN THEIR OWN NUMBERS; THERE WAS A FEELING THAT SOME PEOPLE WOULD BE LEFT OUT.'

H

"I MADE THE POINT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE IN ANY WAY A SUPER LEGCO; IT WOULD NOT BE A MINI EXCO; THAT IT WOULD HAVE NO CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION; IT WAS SIMPLY AN INFORMAL GATHERING IN WHICH MEMBERS COULD EXCHANGE VIEWS ABOUT GOVERNMENT BUSINESS, HE SAID.

..

"I'VE HEARD THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS AND I'VE NOW AGREED THAT I WILL TAKE BACK THOSE VIEWS AND DISCUSS THEM WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WE'LL DECIDE WHERE TO GO FROM HERE, HE ADDED.

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SIR DAVID SAID IF MEMBERS FELT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A FEW MORE MEMBERS THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER IT.

"I THINK IF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DO NOT WISH TO PURSUE

IDEA OR IF THEY FIND IT TOO DIFFICULT, THEN CLEARLY WE WOULD NOT GO TO THE WALL ON THIS PROPOSAL.

"IT IS NOT A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE FOR US, IT'S SIMPLY A CONVENIENT FORUM WHICH WE THOUGHT MEMBERS WOULD APPRECIATE OF HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY OF DISCUSSING THE GOVERNMENT'S

THE PROGRAMME WITH ADMINISTRATION. BUT IF MEMBERS FIND IT IS TOO DIFFICULT TO MANAGE THEN OBVIOUSLY WE WOULD NOT WISH TO GO AHEAD WITH IT, HE SAID.

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