TNAG-1220-FCO40-1530-Democratic-representation-and-reform-in-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 124

An offrired

(c)

(d)

2

changes to procedure to place less emphasis on the more formal and less interesting business of the Council;

changes to Standing Orders required by (a), (b) and (c), and to remove any anomalies or deficiencies in present procedure.

Organisation of the Report

4

The report is divided into three principal sections: paragraphs 8 to 26 on committee work; paragraphs 27 to 40 on debate and paragraphs 41 to 54 on minor recommendations. There is a summary of principal recommendations at paragraph 6 and a summary of minor recommendations at paragraph 7. Possible resource implications are at paragraph 56.

Composition of the Working Group

5

The Working Group comprised the Director/Councils and Administration Branch (Chairman), the Law Draftsman, the Secretary-General/UMELCO, the Assistant Director/Councils, the Deputy Clerk of Councils and the Assistant Secretary/ Councils (Secretary). The Working Group held ten meetings.

Summary of major recommendations

6

The principal observations and recommendations of this Report are -

(a)

(b)

@@

(c)

there is some scope for batching the amended clauses of a bill in its

committee stage (paragraph 10);

third readings of bills might be batched to save undue repetition (paragraph 11);

select committees to deal with bills should be established with a majority

of Unofficials and chaired by Unofficials (paragraph 16);

(d)

select committees should normally hold their initial meetings in private, but their final sessions in public (paragraph 18);

(e)

for a trial period initially, suitable bills should be referred to select committees (paragraph 22);