XN000022-1995-01-25 — Page 11

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Councillors' role in law-making process recognised

The Attorney General, the Hon Jeremy Mathews, today (Wednesday) reassured Legislative Councillors that the withdrawal of the Employment (Amendment) Bill 1994 was not a challenge to their rights in the Council.

The bill was withdrawn because the Government considered it essential to first consult the Labour Advisory Board on the substantial amendment that Members had made to the original proposal on which the Board had achieved a broad consensus.

He said the Government simply exercised the power provided under Standing Order No. 52 of the Legislative Council which explicitly allows the Member in charge of a bill to withdraw or postpone a bill at the beginning of the proceedings on a bill at a sitting.

"Although this action is unusual in Hong Kong, there are many examples in the United Kingdom, on whose parliamentary practice ours is based, where the Government withdrew bills when they had been significantly amended in committee," said Mr Mathews during the motion debate moved by the Hon Anna Wu at the Legislative Council.

Mr Mathews stressed that at no stage in this process did the Administration intend any disrespect to the important role played by the Legislative Council in the law-making process.

He said: "On the contrary, we have always placed great weight on the views expressed by LegCo Members, in this Council, in Bills Committees and elsewhere.

"So I am naturally disappointed that some Honourable Members should seek to reprove the Administration for the withdrawal of the Employment (Amendment) Bill simply because we made the prudent decision to consult the recognised advisory body on labour issues before reverting back to this Council, significantly with an improved package.

"We have never denied the constitutional right of Honourable Members to amend our legislative and expenditure proposals," he added.

However, Mr Mathews pointed out, as an executive-led Government, its primary concern when considering policy issues was the overall interest of Hong Kong.

This may, on certain occasions, mean that some sectional interests advocated or represented by Honourable Members cannot be fully satisfied.