TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 176

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Supplementary Question 7

MX

President, the community is very concerned about Chín Phi-chung: this issue. So my question will be in detail but I hope the answer will be short. In the policy address on October 7, the political package involved nine aspects. Two aspects have been implemented. First we elected you Mr President to be the President. And secondly there is the separation of the Exco and Legco. The only thing that is are still vetoed is the Government-Legco Committee. And there somethings are waiting, say the lowering of voting age to 18 and also the single-seat constituency which will soon be endorsed by this council. And then the political package of the Governor will be submitted to this council for deliberation. And if the Government finds that there is a need to amend legislation it can be done at any time and while we are studying this bill the Government has the right or to change the bill. So my question for the to withdraw the bill

then do you secretary is. is my thinking correct and if it is not, have any supplement?

President: what is your question?

Chin Pui-chung:

The question

is, Mr

President, I hope the administration will not mislead the community. When the bill is put before this council. the Government has the right to amend the bill at any time. Am I correct.

SCA: Mr President, i think it is a fact that any legislation that is proposed to this council, not only members have the right to propose amendments, the administration also as I understand has the right to do so.

Supplementary Question 8

Mr Ngai Shiu-kit: Mr President, the secretary informed us that there are diplomatic contacts and it is hoped that there will be talks soon. So there is a need to delay the gazetting of the bill. He also said that the delay cannot be for too long and it seems that he has set time and down a time limit. My question is: the two governments, again, said that they are willing to talk at any time in any where. Now, does the Government think that setting a time limit for the gazetting of the bill means the British side has no sincerity in the resumption of talks?

a bill, SCA: Mr. President, our experience with processing particularly a complex one, does require time in this council. So therefore, I would submit that the timetable that we have in mind is a very reasonable one. As to the question of sincerity, it is a virtue I would suggest that this Government has practised time and again and we are still practising this virtue the mere fact that we have delayed gazetting of this bill for two weeks already fully demonstrates that sincerity. A further point I. wish to add is that gazetting of the bill and even its introduction into this council does not mean the end of discussions. It merely is the beginning of another process which would be lengthy.

President: Last supplementary, Mr Simon Ip. Mr Ip: My question has been answered.

end

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