TNAG-2176-FCO40-3113-Hong-Kong-Bill-of-Rights-1990 — Page 95

RO-JUL-1990 18:29

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS BR

853 840 1976

P.05

The freeze

is necessCI to avoid the destabilising

effects of legislative and operational vacuums which may occur

be Invalid and. if for

16 statutory laws are found

practical reasons,

can

replaced.

there are substantial delays before they

This notwithstanding, we consider that the

of the LegCo Ad Hoc Group and the public should be

However it is impracticable

accommodated

10

as

far as possible.

work out a detailed schedule for a selective treeze at the

outset under the current legislative timetable. Indeed, the

need

time to identify Ordinances likely to be affected by

the Bill was the reason for the proposed freeze. We propose

that there should be a blanket freeze on existing legislation

for the first year after the enactment Of the Bill. We

further propose that during this period, the Councti should,

by resolution, decide which provisions of our ordinances

should be frozen for

another year or such longer period as

resolution, determine. To avoid any

this Council may, by

doubt, we also recommend that the Bill should make it clear

that the freeze will also cover acts done under existing

statutory powers including the exercise Of discretionary

powers.

8.

proposals.

Clauses 1(2) and 14 of the Bill give effect to these

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