TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 106

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MDLIAN 7897

AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED, PARTICULARLY FOR CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES. INTENSIVE LOBBYING IS ESSENTIAL IN SECURING LEGCO SUPPORT.

16. THERE IS INCREASING PRESSURE FROM MEMBERS TO TAKE OVER CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE FC AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE FROM THE OFFICIALS (THE OTHER FC SUB-COMMITTEE, THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB- COMMITTEE, IS ALREADY CHAIRED BY A NON-OFFICIAL LEGCO MEMBER). WE FAVOUR GIVING THEM UP IN 1995 WHEN THE THREE EX-OFFICIAL MEMBERS LEAVE THE COUNCIL.

MOTION DEBATES

17. A RECORD HIGH OF 39 MOTION DEBATES WERE HELD THIS SESSION. THEY COVERED A VARIETY OF TOPICS, FROM MAJOR POLICY ISSUES TO NARROW SECTORAL INTERESTS. SOME OF THE MOTIONS CARRIED BY THE COUNCIL WERE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION EG THE MOTION TO REVOKE DOUBLE RENT POLICY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, THE MOTION TO EXTEND TO HONG KONG THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN, THE MOTION TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS. MEMBERS ARE INCREASINGLY AWARE THAT MOTIONS PASSED BY THE COUNCIL ARE NOT BINDING ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND ARE LIKELY TO TURN TO OTHER MORE EFFECTIVE MEANS OF PRESSURISING THE ADMINISTRATION E.G. PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS.

LEGCO QUESTIONS AND THE GOVERNOR'S QUESTION SESSIONS 18. MEMBERS MAKE FULL USE OF THE QUESTION TIME TO EXTRACT INFORMATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION ON TOPICAL ISSUES. OVER 600 QUESTIONS WERE RAISED BY MEMBERS DURING THE SESSION, COMPARED WITH 480 IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION. THE INTRODUCTION OF THE QUESTION SESSION BY THE GOVERNOR ALSO PROVIDED AN EXTRA OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE ON MAJOR ISSUES. TEN SUCH SESSIONS WERE HELD.

FORD

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