TNAG-1287-FCO40-1638-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1984 — Page 133

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CONFIDENTIAL #2

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governed by the practice and procedure of the House of

Commons where Standing Orders give him no other guidance.

16.

Clauses 18 to 20 lay down penalties for giving

false evidence and other offences. The penalty for

failing to comply with the rules made for the admission

of strangers is set at $2,000 and three months

imprisonment. The penalty for more serious offences,

such as refusal to be examined before the Council,

deceiving the Council with a false document or libelling

the Council, is set at $10,000 and 12 months'

imprisonment, and the Bill establishes that a continuing

offence shall be subject to a further fine of $2,000 for

each day.

17.

Among the miscellaneous provisions, Clause 26

specifies that neither the President nor any officer of

the Council is subject to the jurisdiction of any court

as regards the exercise of their powers under this Bill

or Standing Orders. This is consistent with the

doctrine that the legislature is sovereign; in the case

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CONFIDENTIAL **