XN000022-1994-06-01 — Page 26

J

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1994

BILL TO QUICKEN TRANSLATION OF LAWS

* * * * *

A BILL

ΤΟ

SIMPLIFY AND QUICKEN THE PROCEDURES FOR AUTHENTICATING THE CHINESE TEXTS OF ORDINANCES ENACTED ORIGINALLY ONLY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WEDNESDAY).

TODAY

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JEREMY MATHEWS, SAID THE TASK

A OF PRODUCING

FULLY BILINGUAL SET OF

AND ORDINANCES

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION WAS OF HISTORIC IMPORTANCE AND A DAUNTING TASK.

IT INVOLVES THE TRANSLATION INTO CHINESE OF 529 ORDINANCES AND THEIR SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION OR SOME 22,000 PAGES OF LAW.

BEFORE JUNE 30, 1997," HE NOTED.

COMPLETING THIS WORK

"WE HAVE SET OURSELVES THE TARGET OF

THE

PROVIDED PRESENT SAID THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ORDINANCE AT

BY AUTHENTIC

THE A TRANSLATED TEXT MIGHT BE DECLARED

MUST BILINGUAL LAWS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

APPROVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MUST

TEXT

BE

THE

BY

HE BEFORE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL,

THAT,

CONSULTED, AND THE RESOLUTION.

THE WORK OF TRANSLATION WAS DIVISION OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT.

UNDERTAKEN BY THE LAW

DRAFTING

MR MATHEWS SAID THIS PROCEDURE WAS RECENTLY REVIEWED BY THE LAW SUB-COMMITTEE ON DRAFTING DIVISION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LEGCO'S AUTHENTIC

CHINESE TEXTS.

IT WAS AGREED THAT A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE WOULD HELP THE TIMELY COMPLETION OF THE WHOLE AUTHENTICATION EXERCISE.

"THE BILL THEREFORE PROPOSES TO REPEAL THE NEED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S PRIOR APPROVAL OF A

TEXT. CHINESE

FOR THE

GENERAL

A

AND UNDER SECTION 34 OF THE INTERPRETATION "HOWEVER, CLAUSES ORDINANCE, ALL ORDERS OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL DECLARING CHINESE TEXT TO BE AUTHENTIC WILL BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF THIS COUNCIL AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT, MR MATHEWS SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

/8