TNAG-2449-FCO40-3565-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1992 — Page 115

CONFIDENTIAL

126436

MDLIAN 5469

RECOMMENDATIONS (9) AND (10) SET OUT IN THE SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT (I.E. FOR A MULTI- SEAT SINGLE-VOTE SYSTEM) SHOULD BE DISREGARDED AND THAT THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL BE ACCEPTED: THAT ALL CONSTITUENCIES SHALL HAVE ONE SEAT EACH AND THAT EACH VOTER SHALL BE GIVEN ONE VOTE FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN 1995.'

12. THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION AND ITS AMENDMENT TURNED OUT TO BE A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE CRC AND THE UDHK, FOCUSING ON THE VOTING SYSTEM TO BE ADOPTED IN 1995. AFTER A FIVE-HOUR DEBATE THE COUNCIL VOTED 28 TO 23 IN FAVOUR OF MCGREGOR'S AMENDMENT. THIS WAS REGARDED BY THE UDHK (AND THE PUBLIC) AS A MAJOR VICTORY OVER

THE CRC.

13. FUNG KING-KEE MOVED ANOTHER AMENDMENT TO RON ARCULLI'S MOTION URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT COMMITTEE TO STUDY AND ENHANCE THE FAIRNESS OF FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTIONS AND TO EXAMINE WHETHER THERE WAS ANY INCONSISTENCY WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS. FUNG'S AMENDMENT WAS DEFEATED (PLEASE SEE ALSO OUR TELNO 1903-5).

AD JOURNMENT DEBATES

14. THREE ADJOURNMENT DEBATES ON FRINGE BENEFITS FOR STAFF IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR, PATIENTS' RIGHTS, AND EXTRADITION AND REMOVAL OF CRIMINALS WERE HELD IN JULY. THERE WAS NOT MUCH MEDIA

INTEREST IN THESE THREE DEBATES.

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THE

15. AFTER NINE MONTHS OF INTENSE AND OFTEN HOSTILE DEBATE, COUNCIL ADOPTED A NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE ON 8 JULY. THE FINAL PRODUCT WAS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE TWO MAIN FACTIONS AFTER BOTH GOT WEARY OF SCORING POLITICAL POINTS FROM EACH OTHER. NONETHELESS, CRC REMAINED UNCONVINCED ABOUT NOT SUBORDINATING THE BILLS COMMITTEE UNDER THE HOUSE COMMITTEE AND WAS ALSO NOT HAPPY WITH GIVING THEM POWER TO SUMMON PUBLIC OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC. UDHK STATED THEIR CONTINUED PREFERENCE FOR STANDING COMMITTEES WHICH WOULD SCRUTINISE BILLS AND GOVERNMENT POLICIES.

16. UNDER THE NEW COMMITTEE STRUCTURE THE EXISTING LEGCO IN-HOUSE AND AD HOC GROUP SYSTEM FOR BILL SCRUTINY WILL BE FORMALISED TO BECOME THE HOUSE COMMITTEE AND BILL COMMITTEES.

17. THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, WHICH INCLUDES ALL THE MEMBERS EXCEPT THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT AND THE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, WILL REPLACE THE

3

PAGE CONFIDENTIAL