TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 107

After receiving the first representation made by the Hong Kong Affairs Society on the 24th of May 1985. The Ad Hoc Group took immediate action to contact the Administration and the

Attorney General's Chamber to work on amendments to the bill, which first draft was ready on the 3rd of June 1985. These amendments in fact deals with 90% of the complaints which was repeated by various groups, the legal profession and the news media on the 8 days to follow, which on the 10th and 11th of June has developed into a strong demand to defer the Second Reading of

this Bill.

Let me make it clear that the decisions 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 out of determination to firmly steer the bill through the differences of opinions and balance on judgment between legislating for an effective and strong Legislative Council; and accommodating the concerns of the public and the media over their freedoms. The Legislative Council must be able to exercise its judgment and authority as decision makers and representatives of the people 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 need to be served by a legislature buttressed by legislation which gives a firm control over the management of its own affairs, effective investigatory powers and as much powers and privileges and respect which the courts of law enjoy in this territories.

In answer to public criticism to this bill we have asked

for the following amendments:-

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

Council shall be open to the public subject to

certain restrictions. The Hon CHAN Ying-lun will speak on the subject of "strangers" which is also

mentioned under Clause 21;