TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 137

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL 1985

SPEECH BY CHIEF SECRETARY AT SECOND READING

Sir

ON WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE 1985

I am very conscious as I rise to make my first speech in this Chamber as Chief Secretary of the deep concern shown over this legislation by lawyers, journalists, public spirited groups of people and, in response to their anxiety, perhaps of a wider concern

within the community that there was some hidden purpose behind the introduction of this legislation

into this Council at the present time. I have no need to assure Members of this Council that this is not the

case, but let me say so quite emphatically to this

wider audience which is concerned about the

proceedings of this Council today. There is no hidden agenda. Of course I could wish, indeed we all wish that it had had a happier and smoother passage than it has. But the debate and discussion of the past weeks have been most valuable and we have received a great deal of useful and constructive criticism arising from this public debate, and as Members have revealed in

their speeches today, substantial amendments and deletions to the Bill are proposed. Before making

some detailed points let me first say a few words about the need for the legislation and the principles

involved.

Members of this Council, Sir, represent a wide cross-section of the community and theirs is the

heavy responsibility and duty to decide on the desirability of passing legislation into law. Their task in past weeks has not been easy, there has been

So much criticism of certain passages in the Bill before us that we have been in danger of losing sight

of the essential principles and objectives lying

behind this legislation. That is not to say that