TNAG-1854-FCO40-2629-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 239

18 January 1989

45

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

香港立法局 一九八九年一月十八日

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Attorney General, do you wish to add to that reply?

ATTORNEY GENERAL: Sir, I wish to make a point of order in the terms of Mr. LI's question. I wish to draw your attention, Sir, to the impropriety of that question, the gross allegation contained in it, and ask for you ruling that that question was out of order. With the greatest respect, Sir, I am sure that this Council would not wish to associate itself with the remark that imputes such motives as implicit in the question.

4.07 pm

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: I would wish to take advice before making a ruling on that matter. I propose to suspend the sitting in order to do so. The sitting will be suspended.

4.12 pm

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Council will now resume. Mr. LI, I wish to draw your attention to two Standing Orders. The first is 18(1)(c), which is that a question shall not contain imputations. The other is 18(1)(b) which is that a question shall not contain a statement which a Member is not prepared to substantiate. You used the term "murder". I would like to ask you, if you are not prepared to substantiate it, to withdraw that phrase. Mr. LI?

MR. LI: Sir, I withdraw the question.

HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. We will now continue with supplementaries.

MR. McGREGOR: Sir, can the Secretary advise whether there have been such incidents in the past, or cases where the gas supply in hospitals has failed during a surgical operation. If so, what action was taken at these times? Is the equipment used in hospitals for gas distribution required to be approved by any government authority?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE: Sir, on the first point, I believe that there have been no previous incidents of this nature. On the second point, Sir, I will have to seek the advice of the Director of Medical and Health Services, and provide a written reply. (Annex VII) On the third point, I will also reply in writing. (Annex VIII)