TNAG-1366-FCO40-1812-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 81

'

PRAED SPEECH BY HON MARIA TAM, OBE, JP

LEGISLA"IVE COUNCIL

DRAFT COP

This draft

=

26.6.85

REVISED

H

Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Bill 85

subject to Cement wit

must not be published or brita' Reading

without being checked against the speech

as desveted by the speaker,

Since the second reading of the bill the Ad Hoc group

has received further representations on it, and the names of the individuals or organizations are listed in the enclosures to this speech, Some of these organizations and individuals have made suggestions of amendments, and some have asked for a deferment of this bill until all District Board and members of the public have expressed their views on it, of until there are elected members to this Council in the next BO88100.

The Ad Hoc Group went through all the representations and considered every point raised by them. My colleagues speaking at the committee stage have dealt with clauses on which we reflected the view of the public and asked for amendments. For the clauses which we are not asking for amendments, there needs to be reasons given; and to those who have given us their generous comments, there needs to be a reply. I shall deal with them one by one.

First, the unamended clauses:-

Clauses 3 and 4: The criticism is that these 2 clauses overlap and there should be sanctions against any member who abuses his or her position by making defamatory comments in Council or committee. On the first point: after considering the criticism, we are satisfied that Clause 3 states the general principle that there shall be freedom of speech and debate in the Council, i.e. the privilege is attached to the Council. And Clause 4 gives immunity from legal