TNAG-1692-FCO40-2342-Hong-Kong-legislation-regarding-the-control-of-publications--1987 — Page 17

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fundamental freedoms? Why must the

today? Is it not the Administration's

bill which strikes at their

Bill be passed

Own case

the Control

of

that many of the sections contained in

Publications Consolidation Ordinance are to be repealed because

they have become redundant? What possible harm can come to the

Administration or this Council or to anyone else for the matter

if there were indeed an adjournment? Or is it feared that once

there is an adjournment and the public be given more time to

study the bill, then it will become more difficult for it to

passed?

be

If

the answer to the last question is in the

affirmative, then I must warn the Administration that this is a

grossly improper way of effecting the passage of a bill, as no

responsible government should push a

legislature, which is not a fully

bill through

elected one, merely because

it has the transient support of the majority of the members of

the legislature when the people outside it are SO very much

against it.

is totally contrary

For

this

Administration's

a vowed

consultation or consensus.

philosophy

of

to

this

government

by

If this bill were to become law today, can the

Administration expect to have the respect of the people it

governs? And indeed can the non-government members of this

Council expect that its

by the engagement of an

collective image can ever be enhanced

experienced public

relations expert?