TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 104

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After receiving the first representation nude ly the Hong

Kong Affairs Society on the 24th of May 1985, the ad floc Group took Lumedjate acțion 10 contact the Administration and the Attorney General 'n Chambers to work on aweninonta to Lhe Bill, which first draft whaB roadly on as early as this 3rd of June 1985. There amenduents in fact deal wath 90% of the compleints which were repeated by, veriour groupa, the legra profession and lhu news media on the following eight days to come which by the 10th and 11th of dung lan developed into a strong dringud to defer the Second Reading of this rill.

Let me make it clear that the decimica to go ahead with the Second Reading on the general principle`and merits of the Bill is

made not out of insensitivity to public opinion, but' cut of determination to firmly steur the Bill through the differences of

opinions and balance on judgment between legislating for an

effective and strong Legislative Council and accomodating the.

concerns of the public and the media over their freedoms. The Legislativó Council must be able to exercise its judgment and

authority as decision makers and representativos of the people

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both now and in the future by grasping the issues before it, analyse

and deal with them with a clear conscience that the decision is made

in the interest of the public at large.

And the interest of the public needs to be served by ♫ legislature buttressed by legislatiças which givo a firm control

over the management of its own affcirò, offective izvestigatory powers and as much powers and privilogos and rótpact, which tho courts of law enjoy in this territory.

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in anower to public criticion to this Bill we huve

acked for the following amendments:-

(1) on Clause 8 to the effect that the sitting of the

Council shall be open to the public subject to

certain restrictions vid ch has to be publicised in

form of orders. The Hon CHAN Ying-lun will speak

on the subject of "strangere" which is also mentioned

under Clausu 21;

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