TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 18

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greatly enlarged and partly elected Council has the required

administrative support and that Members are adequately, but

not lavishly, recompensed for the long hours they devote to

Council business and the responsibilities of Office.

Finally, there is the legislation we are considering today

which will set out for Members, in their new, independent

Council Chamber, a a framework of law describing their rights

and defining their obligations in the exercise of those

rights. It is the view of the Government, and Members have

endorsed this view,

this view, that the new Council should have this

statement available

available to guide it when it starts its work.

Today's Council has grown and developed from the laws and

practices of the past: tomorrow's Council calls for a

clearer and more defined identity.

"For last year's words belong to last year's

language. And next year's words await another voice."

the

the

Already many Committees have been opened to the Public

Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee,

Estimates Committee, and there are Select Committees;

widening scope of the Council will doubtless lead to

others. How much better that we have available not only to

the Council but to Members of the public a basis of law in a

single Hong Kong Ordinance within which they

they can operate?

If subsequently the Council decides or there is legitimate

call for amendment or

debated by the Council.

addition

to

this law this can be