TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 101

Dis

170m: DIS (Miglynn)

To = Commissioner, London (Paul Brown for immediate onpess

June 12, 1982

galaworthy at FCO)

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON MARIA TAM, OBE, JP

LEGISLATIVA COLLIOTE

12.6.85

Lozislative Counci) (Powern and Privileges) Bill 1985

REVISIKO

to

2G

Sir,

The Sino-British Joint Declaration on the future of Hong Kœas

was ratified on the 27th of May 1985 and we bave moved into "the

transition. period". In 4 mouths' ta there will be 24 elected

time

representatives of the people of Hong Kong joining the Legislative Council and in 12 years' time this territory will be governed by en alected legislature. By then it will neither be appropriate mer ponciklo for the SAR Goverment to look to Westminister and eşek refermen to ite Parliamentary practices on how to manage the affair of the Hong Kong legislature. It will be necessary therefore to enact our own

rules.

The Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill is introduced to suect such rules in Hong Kong by an ordinance, sad on åd Hoo group of the Legislative Council, to which I en privileged to be the oonvener, way formed to consider ita provisions. This bill seeks to codify the existing commea law and Parliamentary practice which can be extended or has already boca extended to the Hong Kong degteleture under the doctrine of inheront nepeesity. Also, Section 4 of the Oaths and Declaratione Ordítanée. Cep 11 provičoa; "ého beztalatávo Ogunotl and any commitice thereof may administer any roth to a fitness axamingã before the Council or Committee, and for that purpose shall bave the same powers, rights and 'privileges as are possessed of exercisable by the House of Commons of the United Kingdon or any committee for enforcing the attendance of witnesses and punishing persons quilty of

contempt" and this forms the legal basie for the Clauces ma Evidence in Part III, and Clauses 17 and 18 under part IV of the Bill.

HICK 011/12 ник

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

1 7 JUN 1985

DESK OFFICER

INDEX

DNRGISTE

Action T

/The considerations