WISHES ON THE BASIC LAW, I THINK LEGCO MEMBERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO REFLECT THESE VIEWS TO THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED, JUST AS LEGCO
MEMBERS HAVE ALL ALONG BEEN REFLECTING PUBLIC VIEWS TO THE
GOVERNMENT.
DUNN (IN ENGLISH): YES THE QUESTION WAS WHETHER MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD REFLECT THE VIEWS ON THE BASIC LAW
INDIVIDUALLY OR AS A BODY AND WHETHER THERE IS ANY CONFLICT,
GIVEN THAT THE BASIC LAW IS THE AUTHORITY OF THE CHINESE
GOVERNMENT. MY ANSWER IS THAT IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MEMBERS OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HK
ON THE DRAFTING AND THE CONTENTS OF THE FUTURE BASIC LAW BECAUSE
THIS WOULD HAVE A MAJOR INFLUENCE ON THEIR LIVES AND THE WAY HK
IS RUN AFTER 1997. I DON'T SEE ANY CONFLICT BECAUSE THE JOB OF
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HK AND TO REFLECT
WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF HK. I THINK WE AS A BODY AND
INDIVIDUALLY INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HAVE A
DUTY TO REFLECT PEOPLE'S VIEWS ON THIS VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE. AS
TO HOW WE WOULD DO IT, I THINK THERE ARE MANY CHANNELS OF DOING
IT. WE CAN REFLECT OUR VIEWS THROUGH THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE,
THE DRAFTING COMMITTEE, DIRECT TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
Q. WOULD THERE BE A MOTION FOR A FORMAL LEGCO DEBATE?
A. THIS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE NEW LEGCO SESSION BEGINS
SO THAT THE OLD AND NEW MEMBERS COULD DISCUSS IT AND MAKE A
DECISION. AT THE MOMENT, I DON'T HAVE ANY PARTICULAR IDEA.
Q. DO YOU MEAN IT IS POSSIBLE?
A. THE NEW LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE 46 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS
AND I AM JUST ONLY ONE OF THEM. AFTER ALL 46 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE
DISCUSSED IT AND IF THE MAJORITY FEEL THAT WE SHOULD INITIATE ACTION,
THEN WE SURELY WOULD DO SO. BUT BEFORE THE NEW MEMBERS HAVE JOINED
US, IT WOULD BE TOO EARLY TO SAY ANYTHING.
Q. WOULD THERE BY A LYDIA MOTION AFTER SEPTEMBER?-
A. (LAUGHTER) THIS WILL DEPEND ON MEMBERS' VIEWS.
ENDS
AKERS-JONES
HONG KONG AGREEMENT : RESTRICTED
LIMITED
HD/HKD
HD/FED
RESEARCH D (FE)
D/HD PUSD
MR WILSON
COPIES TO:
MR FIFOOT, LEGAL ADVISERS
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