TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 123

(Final draft)

Report of the Working Group set up to review the Standing Orders, Conventions and Practices of the Legislative Council

Background

The Working Group was established on the direction of the Chief Secretary in June 1982 to complete a review of the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council that had been initiated the previous September.

2

No formal terms of reference were laid down for the Working Group. Although its title kept a specific reference to Standing Orders, and the group has completed a comprehensive review of these orders, this in fact served as a point of departure for the more comprehensive exercise announced in the Governor's Address to the Legislative Council on 6 October 1982

3

"To help public understanding of the

depth of debate behind new legislation we ought to do more in acknowledging the contribution of Unofficial Members at all stages in the legislative process - and, indeed, in the monitoring of legislation passed and policies adopted. Accordingly, at my request, the Chief Secretary, with the concurrence of the Senior Unofficial Member, has set up a working party to review the Standing Orders, conventions and practices of this Council so as to achieve, among other things, a more structured public debate of legislation and an easier exchange of questions and answers, resulting in a truer reflection of this Council's essentially representative role."

As a result of this development the Working Group took its objective to be to report to the Chief Secretary on -

(a)

(b)

changes to Legislative Council procedure which would give due recognition to the contribution made by the Unofficial Members to the formulation of legislation and other government business;

changes to procedure which would facilitate wider debate of public issues;