XN000022-1994-06-29 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994

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ELECTORAL BILL PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (ELECTORAL PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 WAS PASSED BY 32 TO 24 VOTES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

IN WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE THE LONGEST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG (FROM 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY TO 4.50 AM TODAY), MEMBERS SPENT MORE THAN 17 HOURS ON THIS BILL ALONE AND THROUGHOUT ITS PROCEEDINGS, 15 DIVISIONS OF VOTES WERE TAKEN.

DURING THE RESUMED SECOND READING DEBATE, 42 MEMBERS PLUS CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, AND THE SECRETARY CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR NICHOLAS NG, SPOKE ON THE BILL.

THE

FOR

FOURTEEN MEMBERS MOVED A GREAT NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH WERE TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS FOR THE ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1995, INCLUDING FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ELECTION COMMITTEE CONSTITUENCIES.

AND

THE

ON FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, THE PROPOSAL BY ADMINISTRATION TO RENAME THE HEALTH CARE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY AS HEALTH SERVICES FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY WAS PASSED.

THE AMENDMENT BY THE HON MARTIN BARROW то INCLUDE AIRLINE REPRESENTATIVES IN THE TOURISM FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY AND THE HON SIMON IP'S TWO AMENDMENTS ON COMPANY DIRECTORS WERE CARRIED.

OTHER AMENDMENTS ON THIS ISSUE MOVED BY SEVEN MEMBERS WERE VOTED DOWN.

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BY THE HON MARTIN LEE TO ABOLISH THE NEW ELECTION COMMITTEE CONSTITUENCY WAS DEFEATED BY 17 TO 36 VOTES.

OTHER AMENDMENTS IN RESPECT OF ONE PERSON ONE VOTE, "FIRST PAST THE POST" VOTING SYSTEM FOR ALL FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES ELECTIONS, AND TENURE OF OFFICE OF LEGCO MEMBERS TO EXPIRE BY MIDNIGHT JULY 1, 1997, WERE VOTED DOWN.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT RELATING TO POWER ΤΟ CHANGE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES/ELECTION COMMITTEE COMPOSITION WAS PASSED BY 46 TO NINE

VOTES.

THE

PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL MOVED BY THE HON EMILY LAU ELECTORAL PROVISIONS (MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS) (NO. 3) BILL WAS ALSO READ A SECOND TIME. THE BILL SOUGHT TO RETURN ELECTED MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN 1995.

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THE

60

1994 DIRECTLY

TWELVE MEMBERS SPOKE ON THIS BILL WHICH WAS DEFEATED BY 20 TO 21 VOTES.

SUBSEQUENTLY

BILL

WAS

MEANWHILE, THE PROTECTION OF TRADING INTERESTS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS. DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED.

DURING THE SITTING, THE MOTION MOVED BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG ON FERRY FARES FOR HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY WAS VETOED. THE OTHER TWO MOTIONS RELATED TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE WERE PASSED.

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