OFFICIAL RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Saturday, 31 May 1997
The Council met at half-past Nine o'clock

MEMBERS PRESENT:

THE PRESIDENT

THE HONOURABLE MRS RITA FAN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE WONG SIU-YEE

THE HONOURABLE JAMES TIEN PEI-CHUN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE DAVID CHU YU-LIN

THE HONOURABLE HO SAI-CHU, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE EDWARD HO SING-TIN, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE RAYMOND HO CHUNG-TAI, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE NG LEUNG-SING

THE HONOURABLE ERIC LI KA-CHEUNG, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE DAVID LI KWOK-PO, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE LEE KAI-MING

THE HONOURABLE ALLEN LEE, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MRS ELSIE TU

THE HONOURABLE MRS SELINA CHOW, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MRS PEGGY LAM, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE HENRY WU

THE HONOURABLE NGAI SHIU-KIT, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE HENRY TANG YING-YEN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE RONALD ARCULLI, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE YUEN MO

THE HONOURABLE MA FUNG-KWOK

THE HONOURABLE CHEUNG HON-CHUNG

DR THE HONOURABLE MRS TSO WONG MAN-YIN

THE HONOURABLE LEUNG CHUN-YING, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE LEONG CHE-HUNG, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MRS SOPHIE LEUNG LAU YAU-FAN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE MOK YING-FAN

THE HONOURABLE HUI YIN-FAT, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHAN CHOI-HI

THE HONOURABLE CHAN YUEN-HAN

THE HONOURABLE CHAN WING-CHAN

THE HONOURABLE CHAN KAM-LAM

THE HONOURABLE TSANG YOK-SING

THE HONOURABLE CHENG KAI-NAM

THE HONOURABLE FREDERICK FUNG KIN-KEE

DR THE HONOURABLE PHILIP WONG YU-HONG

THE HONOURABLE KENNEDY WONG YING-HO

THE HONOURABLE HOWARD YOUNG, J.P.

DR THE HONOURABLE CHARLES YEUNG CHUN-KAM

THE HONOURABLE YEUNG YIU-CHUNG

THE HONOURABLE IP KWOK-HIM

THE HONOURABLE BRUCE LIU SING-LEE

THE HONOURABLE LAU KONG-WAH

THE HONOURABLE MRS MIRIAM LAU KIN-YEE, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE AMBROSE LAU HON-CHUEN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHOY KAN-PUI, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHENG YIU-TONG

DR THE HONOURABLE TANG SIU-TONG, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE KAN FOOK-YEE

THE HONOURABLE NGAN KAM-CHUEN

THE HONOURABLE LO SUK-CHING

DR THE HONOURABLE LAW CHEUNG-KWOK

THE HONOURABLE MS MARIA TAM WAI-CHU, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE TAM YIU-CHUNG, J.P.

MEMBERS ABSENT:

PROF THE HONOURABLE NG CHING-FAI

THE HONOURABLE ANDREW WONG WANG-FAT, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE CHIM PUI-CHUNG

THE HONOURABLE LAU WONG-FAT, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE PAUL CHENG MING-FUN, J.P.

THE HONOURABLE TIMOTHY FOK TSUN-TING

CLERK IN ATTENDANCE:

MS PAULINE NG MAN-WAH,

CLERK TO THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

BILL

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Good morning, Members. The meeting will now start. First Reading of Bill.

First Reading of Bill

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1997

CLERK (in Cantonese): The Legislative Council Commission (Amendment) Bill 1997

Second Reading of Bill

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): Second Reading of Bill. Secretary for Policy Co-ordination.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1997

SECRETARY FOR POLICY CO-ORDINATION (in Cantonese): Madam President, I move that the Legislative Council Commission (Amendment) Bill 1997 be read the Second time.

Under Article 8 of the Basic Law, the Legislative Council Commission Ordinance will continue to be in force after 30 June 1997. The Working Group on Administrative Matters (Working Group) set up in the Provisional Legislative Council has conducted a review of the Ordinance earlier on and proposed that the Ordinance be amended. The purposes of such are to ensure that the Ordinance can continue to be in force on and after 1 July, as well as to make transitional arrangements arising from the establishment of the Provisional Legislative Council and its supporting structure.

At the meeting held on 17 May 1997, this Council endorsed the proposals submitted by the Working Group. The purpose of the Bill presented to this Council today is to implement those proposals.

Clauses 3 and 4 establish the definitions of the terms "Legislative Council", "Legislative Council Secretariat" (the Secretariat), and "Legislative Council Commission" (the Commission). They also make express reference to the Provisional Legislative Council, so as to render the amended Ordinance applicable to the Provisional Legislative Council.

Clause 5 provides transitional arrangements for members of the Working Group to be members of the Commission and to supervise the operation of the Secretariat. The Bill also proposes to expand the membership of the Commission to not more than 13 members.

Clause 10 provides that all property acquired and contracts entered into for the operation of the Provisional Legislative Council shall be transferred to the Commission upon 1 July 1997.

Madam President, I beg to move.

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): I now propose the question to you and that is: That the Legislative Council Commission (Amendment) Bill 1997 be read the Second time. In accordance with Rule 54(4) of the Rules of Procedure, the debate is now adjourned and the Bill referred to the House Committee.

NEXT MEETING

PRESIDENT (in Cantonese): In accordance with the Rules of Procedure, I now adjourn the Meeting until 9.30 am on Saturday, 7 June 1997.

Adjourned accordingly at twenty-five minutes to Ten o'clock.