TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 79

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numerous

At this point, Sir, I would like to pay tribute, on

behalf of the Government, to the patient, responsible and

tireless mander in which Members of this. Council have discharged their responsibilities in relation to this Bill. They have not lost sight of the vital objective which is to create a strong and effective Legislature, capable of taking its place in the centre of the Hong Kong we are all seeking

create. They have listened

to carefully

representations from many quarters, and often they have had

to follow up statements which could have been made directly to them but which instead have appeared in the columma of

the press.

Where these suggestions have been consistent

with the aim of creating an effective Legislature they have

recommended that they should be adopted. But where these representations have not been consistent with this aim they

have explained their ГЕЗБОЛЕ fot

not supporting

Having said that, I would like to stress that this Bill is a

Government $111. It was

a Government proposal that was put

to this Council. There has been no attempt to take shelter

behind Unofficial Members and to shuffle off responsibility for it, or to hide, as has been suggested, behind the skirts

of Miss Tam, To that extent this B111

responsibility. But the passage of this bill is

18

them,

shared

a matter

for this Legislative Council and once it had been introduced into this Council it was for the Legislature to make up ita

mind about it.