TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 109

their answers. But supplementary questions may also be asked in order to clarify the response to

to clarify the response to the original question. No notice is given of these. As the proceedings of the Council are televised, broadcast and reported by Hong Kong's newspapers, the public has the opportunity, week by week, to see Legislative Councillors probing Government officials on an extensive range of issues of topical concern.

Debate

on

The Council holds frequent debates Government policies ΟΙ on matters of concern to the community at large. Every year, the Governor opens the legislative session by giving an Address which outlines the Government's policies for the coming year. In the ensuing debate, there is an opportunity for Members to put forward their ideas on the development and modification of Government policy. Similarly, after the Financial Secretary has set out his Budget proposals for the revenue and expenditure of the Government in the next financial year, Members have the

the opportunity to debate the policies behind these proposals.

Increasingly the Council has also debated specific issues. Into this category come the debates in recent years on schemes of control for public utilities, on transport, on the Future of Hong Kong, on the White Paper on the Further Development of Representative Government in Hong Kong, on the proposed title

title of British National (Overseas), on Education Commission Report No. 1, and on the Vietnamese refugee problem in Hong Kong.

In the 1985/86 Session there have been debates on the White Paper on the

the draft Hong Kong (British Nationality) Order 1985, on the Housing Authority's redevelopment programme for 26 public housing blocks considered unsafe and on the Broadcasting

the Broadcasting Review Board Report.

are

such,

No one should suppose that these debates the occasions for bland and uncritical review of Government policy. On the contrary they are constructive, critical and well informed and, as valued by the Administration. Nor is it true to suggest that the Administration always gets its way in the end. For example, an official proposal to amend an Unofficial Motion on Education which was debated on 13 June 1983 was withdrawn in the face of stiff opposition from the Unofficial Members.

and

stage" in debating in in question time is

Every moment spent "on stage" the Chamber, in committee