TNAG-0735-FCO40-939-Policy-objective-for-the-developing-of-Hong-Kong-in-the-1980-1978 — Page 168

INTRODUCTION

THE ROLE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

1.

I should like first to welcome the new members to

this Council.

They bring with them a wide and diverse

of Hong Kong's

society and economy. They have joined an organ of

Government that is constitutionally unique in its many

"oles of forum for debate, the enactment of laws and

ombudsman, accessible to the public whether to hear

complaints or give advice. The access that all

Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils

have both to officials and to confidential official

papers, in itself distinguishes them from members of any

I other legislature I have known.

knowledge of many levels and aspects

am glad that in

recent years these roles have been strengthened not

only by a large expansion of membership, but also by

the support of a strong UMELCO Office, provision of better accommodation, and allowances for members, and

that a closer scrutiny of legislation and a better

service to the public has resulted. Hong Kong owes a very great deal to the great volume of work done by Members, and to the disinterested and often unpublicised

devotion with which they do it, and I believe that

this is becoming more generally appreciated. would like to pay my tribute to this work without which the Government of Hong Kong could not be carried o

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