TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 45

* GRS 600

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT/A

FM HONG KONG 060750Z

RESTRICTED

32

- 7 OCT 1975

NKKIG

J

RESTRICTED

TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO 993 OF 6 OCTOBER.

MIPT.

LASI

TEXT AS FOLLOWS:- BEGINS.

Pri

J6)

NEX

RIF

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

39)

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY A WORD ABOUT THE WORK OF THIS COUNCIL WHICH IS USUALLY ALL TOO SILENT ABOUT ITS OWN ACHIEVEMENTS. THE LAST SESSION WAS A PARTICULARLY PRODUCTIVE ONE, THERE WERE SOME NOTABLE BILLS PASSED SUCH AS THE CHILD CARE CENTRES BILL THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY INCORPORATION BILL, THE BETTING DUTY AMENDMENT BILL, THE LABOUR RELATIONS BILL, THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS BILL, THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES BILL, THE LOANS ORDINANCE, THE LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) BILL AND THE TWO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BILLS RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION AND CLOTHING INDUSTRIES. THEY ALL PROVIDE IN WAYS LARGE OR SMALL FOR NEW AND FAR-REACHING DEPARTURES IN ONE ASPECT OR ANOTHER OF THE LIFE OF HONG KONG.

SOME OF THEM WERE CONTROVERSIAL AND I WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO NOTE THE WAY IN WHICH PUBLIC OR INTERESTED OPINION MADE ITSELF FELT THROUGH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL WHO MOVED MANY AMENDMENTS WHICH SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, IN SOME CASES BILLS WERE DELIBERATELY PUBLISHED EARLY OR THEIR DISCUSSION WAS DELAYED IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE OR ALLOW FOR FULLER PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

SIMILARLY THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EXTREMELY USEFUL DEBATES AND MOTIONS ON ADJOURNMENT WHICH CLARIFIED POLICY ON SUCH DIVERSE TOPICS AS A COMMODITY EXCHANGE, THE TELEPHONE CHARGES, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, AND THE PILL.

RESTRICTED

WELON I

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