TNAG-2735-FCO40-3943-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 96

CONFIDENTIAL

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pa. Roug Leglo

013125

MDHIAN 3375

77

RECEIV

CONFIDENTIAL

FM HONG KONG

- 2 SEP 1993

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

DESE

SISTRY

TELNO 1402

INDEA

OF 01105OZ SEPTEMBER 93

con Taken

INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING UKREP JLG HONG KONG

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STATUS OF LEGCO PANELS: AMENDMENTS TO LEGCO STANDING ORDERS.

SUMMARY.

1.

A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE LEGCO STANDING ORDERS TO FORMALISE LEGCO PANELS AND SUB-COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO ON 13 OCTOBER 1993. IT IS ALSO PLANNED TO INTRODUCE A BILL COVERING CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ORDINANCE INTO LEGCO AT THE SAME SITTING. WE DO NOT PROPOSE TO FOREWARN THE CHINESE ABOUT

THIS.

DETAIL.

2.

FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE EXISTING INFORMAL OMELCO PANEL SYSTEM, THE LEGCO HOUSE COMMITTEE DECIDED IN FEBRUARY 1993 THAT THE INFORMAL PANELS SHOULD BE TURNED INTO FORMAL COMMITTEES OF LEGCO AND CONTINUE TO BE CALLED PANELS. THEIR FUNCTIONS WOULD REMAIN UNCHANGED AND ALL THE EXISTING PANELS WOULD BE RETAINED WITH PLANS FOR FURTHER ADDITIONS. ONCE FORMALISED, THESE PANELS WOULD BE COVERED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) ORDINANCE. DECISIONS OF A PANEL WOULD BE DETERMINED BY A MAJORITY OF MEMBERS VOTING BUT THE VOTING RESULT WOULD NOT BE BINDING ON THE HOUSE COMMITTEE OR ON THE COUNCIL.

3

THE PROPOSAL TO FORMALISE THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE OF LEGCO

IS NOTHING NEW: IT HAS BEEN UNDER DISCUSSION IN THE LEGCO FOR A LONG TIME. DESPITE STRONG PRESSURE FROM LEGCO MEMBERS FOR THE FORMAL PANEL SYSTEM TO BE PUT IN PLACE WITHIN THE 1992/93 LEGISLATIVE SESSION (WHICH ENDED ON 21 JULY), WE DID NOT FEEL ABLE TO DO SO IN THE LIGHT OF THE POLITICAL CLIMATE WITH CHINA AT THAT TIME AND HENCE HAVE STALLED THE DRAFTING PROCESS. BUT NOW THAT ALL THE OUTSTANDING DRAFTING POINTS HAVE BEEN CLEARED, THERE IS NO FURTHER PRETEXT FOR DELAY. HAVING FAILED TO HAVE THE RELEVANT STANDING ORDERS AND ORDINANCE AMENDED IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION, LEGCO MEMBERS NOW PRESS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE RELEVANT

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