TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 31

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Sir,

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DRAFT SPEECH BY HON SIR ROGER LOBO, CBE, LLD, JP

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

26.6.85

Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 1985

Third Reading

It is a rare event for this Council to debate the contents of a Bill at the Third Reading Stage. But the LegCo (Powers and Privileges) Bill, or (Powers and Duties) Bill as some of us would have preferred, has attracted a great deal of controversy much of it misguided in my view and I hope this final debate will clear away any residual misunderstanding.

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I have little to add to the points my colleagues have made in reply to the various sectoral representations we have received. But (as the out-going Senior Unofficial Member) I believe I can speak with some objectivity and there are a number of issues I would like to address.

Perhaps the most persistent call has been for the Bill to be deferred. But I have heard no arguments of substance for this step.

The Bill was introduced into this Council on 15th May and it is our duty the duty of this Council to deal with it. We also believe it is important that the new Council should know where it stands and should have statutory support for its functions from the outset.

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As the hard working Convener of our ad hoc Group has pointed out, there is probably no such thing as a perfect Bill. But many hours and days have been spent poring over its provisions and the helpful representations we have received. A number of useful and desirable amendments have been made and we are satisfied that we may now, in good conscience, pass the Bill.

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