XN000022-1994-02-23 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1994

FOR THE VARIOUS REASONS I HAVE EXPLAINED, THE ADMINISTRATION OPPOSES THE MOTION AND THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WILL VOTE AGAINST MRS TU'S MOTION.

1.

AT THIS POINT, MR PRESIDENT, I WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE ADMINISTRATION'S STAND ON MRS TU'S SUGGESTION, ALSO REFER TO EARLIER BY MR ACRULLI, THAT THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS SHOULD ABSTAIN FROM VOTING IN LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS DEALING WITH THE 1994/95 ELECTIONS. A SIMILAR SUGGESTION WAS PUT TO THE GOVERNOR DURING THE GOVERNOR'S QUESTION SESSION IN THIS COUNCIL ON DECEMBER

1992. ON THAT OCCASION, THE GOVERNOR MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS WHAT IT WAS. IT WOULD BE WRONG TO MAKE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT SORTS OF MANDATE OF DIFFERENT HONOURABLE MEMBERS ACCORDING TO THE BACKGROUNDS FROM WHICH THEY CAME.

SUCH A DISTINCTION WERE MADE, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RESIST THE PROPOSAL THAT THE VOTES OF THOSE WHO WERE APPOINTED RATHER THAN ELECTED TO THIS COUNCIL SHOULD ALSO SOME HOW BE DEVALUED. IT IS THEREFORE THE ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION THAT THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS WOULD EXERCISE THE SAME VOTING RIGHT AS CONFERRED ON ALL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

SPEECH BY SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR NICHOLAS NG TO ROUND UP THE SECOND READING DEBATE ON ELECTORAL PROVISIONS

(MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. 2) BILL 1993

MR PRESIDENT,

2)

THE

I

TU'S

THE ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. BILL 1993 IS TO PUT IN PLACE THE MORE IMMEDIATE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS IN

1994-95 FOR THE THREE TIERS OF REPRESENTATIVE BODIES. DURING BARLIER DEBATE ON MRS ELSIE TU'S MOTION TO DEFER DEBATE OF THE BILL, I HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED THE URGENCY OF THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION. I MAKE WOULD MERELY POINT OUT, ONCE AGAIN, THAT IF WE ARE TO BE ABLE TO TIMELY AND ORDERLY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FORTHCOMING SERIES OF ELECTIONS, ENACTMENT OF THE BILL MUST NOT, AND CANNOT, BE DELAYED. AM ENCOURAGED THAT, AS IS PLAIN FROM THE VOTING RESULTS ON MRS. MOTION, A [CLEAR] MAJORITY IN THIS COUNCIL ALSO AGREE TO THE PRACTICAL NEED TO PRESS AHEAD WITH THE BILL. I SHOULD ALSO LIKE TO CLARIFY IMPORTANT POINT HERE. THE CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE IS NOT AS MEMBERS IMPLY GOVERNOR CHRIS PATTEN'S PACKAGE; IT IS A HONG

PACKAGE. THE PROPOSALS ARE THE RESULTS OF GOVERNMENT

EXTENSIVE CAREFUL DELIBERATIONS BETWEEN HER MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT AND HONG KONG THE GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND WITH ENDORSEMENT OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. THEY HAVE RECEIVED CONSISTENT SUPPORT WITHIN MOST SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY. I NEED HARDLY ADD THAT THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS IN THE PRESENT BILL HAVE ALL BEEN THIS COUNCIL IN PREVIOUS DEBATES.

ONE

SOME

KONG

AND

ENDORSED BY

/MANY MEMBERS