Secretary for the Treasury
Clerks to the Legislative Council:
Mr. LAW Kam-sang, Deputy Secretary General
Mr. Ray CHAN Yum-mou, Assistant Secretary General (2)
The following papers were laid on the table pursuant to Standing Order 14(2):
|
|
|
|
1. Land Registration Fees (Amendment) Regulation 1995 (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 1996
|
145/96
|
|
2. Probation of Offenders (Approved Institution) (Consolidation) (Amendment) Order 1996
|
146/96
|
|
3. Solicitors (General) Costs (Amendment) Rules 1996
|
147/96
|
|
4. Solicitors (Trade Marks and Patents) Costs (Amendment) Rules 1996
|
148/96
|
|
5. Declaration of Change of Titles (Civil Service Training Centre and Senior Staff Course Centre) Notice 1996
|
149/96
|
|
6. Declaration of Change of Title (Director, Senior Staff Course Centre) Notice 1996
|
150/96
|
|
7. Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 (4 of 1996) (Commencement) Notice 1996
|
151/96
|
|
8. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Metrication Ordinance) Order
|
(C) 27/96
|
|
9. Official Languages (Authentic Chinese Text) (Post Office Ordinance) Order
|
(C) 28/96 |
|
No. 70
|
-
|
Estimates for the year ending 31 March 1997 General Revenue Account Summaries Revenue by Heads and Subheads
|
|
No. 71
|
-
|
Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Fund Annual Report by the Director of Social Welfare Incorporated for the year from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995
|
|
No. 72
|
-
|
Consumer Council Annual Report 1994-1995
|
|
No. 73
|
-
|
Securities and Futures Commission Approved Estimates of Income and Expenditure for Financial Year 1996/97 |
Written replies to Questions 1 to 20 were tabled for Members information.
The President announced that, in response to a point of order made by Mr. Albert CHAN on the second day of the previous sitting on 28.3.96, he had undertaken to give, at this sitting, the reasons for his intervention in the course of Mr. LEUNG Yiu-chung's speech. He said that derogatory reflections and abusive and indecent language included not only direct accusations and expletives but also allusions and quotes. Quoting the part of Mr. LEUNG Yiu-chungs speech which he considered as reflecting derogatorily on the moral character of some people, he said that if Mr. LEUNG was alluding or intended to allude to any Member of the Council, he would fall foul of Standing Order 31(4). The President further said that in the light of some of the speeches made prior to Mr. LEUNG in the same debate, he had requested Mr. LEUNG to clarify his remarks and to indicate whether the remarks were referring to any Member of the Council. After Mr. LEUNG had stated that he was not so referring, he invited Mr. LEUNG to carry on with his speech.
The President went on to say that while the use of offensive and insulting language about Members of the Council was in breach of Standing Order 31(4), he considered the use of profane, abusive and indecent language about anybody, even if he or she was not a Member of the Council, was also out of order.
Regarding Mr. LEUNG Yiu-chungs enquiry, at the previous sitting, on whether the part of his speech in question would stay in Hansard, the President said that there was no question of any part of Mr. LEUNGs speech being deleted from Hansard. Expressions or words that had been withdrawn by order of the Chair would remain in Hansard unless such words or expressions were grossly profane or grossly indecent.
The bills were read the first time and ordered to be set down for second reading pursuant to Standing Order 41(3).
The Secretary for Economic Services moved the second reading and addressed the Council.
Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.
The Secretary for Security moved the second reading and addressed the Council.
Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.
The Secretary for Trade and Industry moved the second reading and addressed the Council on each of the above six bills.
Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debates on the above bills were adjourned and the bills were referred to the House Committee.
Resumption of debate on second reading which had been moved on 6 March 1996.
The Secretary for the Treasury spoke on the motion.
At 2:58 p.m., the President's Deputy took the chair during the temporary absence of the President.
The Secretary for Health and Welfare, the Secretary for Recreation and Culture, the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, the Secretary for Transport, the Secretary for Security, the Secretary for Financial Services, the Secretary for Education and Manpower and the Secretary for Housing spoke on the motion.
At 4:34 p.m., the President resumed the chair.
The Financial Secretary replied.
The President suspended the sitting at 5:03 p.m. to enable Members to deliberate in private before they proceeded to vote on the motion.
The Council resumed at 5:20 p.m.
Question on second reading put. The President stated that he thought the motion had been carried.
Miss Emily LAU claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).
The President announced that there were 52 votes for the motion and two votes against it. (Voting record in Annex I.) He declared that the motion was carried.
Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.
The Council went into Committee and considered the APPROPRIATION BILL 1996
In accordance with Standing Order 55, the Committee first considered the schedule to the bill.
Question that the sums for heads 21 to 194 stand part of the schedule proposed.
The Chairman stated that Mr. James TO had withdrawn the notice of his motion to reduce the sum for Head 122 in the schedule to the bill. Although no amendment was being proposed to the schedule, a debate might still take place on the question that all the heads shown in the schedule stand part of the schedule. The Chairman further said that any such debate should be confined to the policy of the service for which the money was to be provided and should not deal with the details of any item or subhead but might refer to the details of revenue or funds for which that service was responsible.
Three Members and the Secretary for Security spoke on the motion.
Question that the sums for heads 21 to 194 stand part of the schedule put and agreed to.
Question that the schedule stand part of the bill proposed, put and agreed to.
Question that clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the bill proposed.
Question on clauses 1 and 2 put and agreed to.
The Council then resumed.
The Financial Secretary reported that the
had passed through Committee without amendment. He moved that the bill be read the third time and do pass.
Question on the third reading proposed, put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time and passed.
Dr. C.H. LEONG moved the following motion and addressed the Council:
That the Standing Orders of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong be amended by repealing Standing Order No.42(3B)(c) and (d) and substituting -
"(c) if at the sitting of House Committee to consider the bill in preparation for resumption of debate the committee recommends that the second reading debate be resumed at the next sitting of the Council then resumption may take place at that sitting with the permission of the President provided that due notice has been given under subparagraph (e);
(d) subject to subparagraph (e), notice of resumption of debate shall be given by the Member or public officer in charge of the bill not less than 12 clear days before the day on which the debate is to be resumed;
(e) where resumption of debate is to take place 9 clear days or less after the sitting of House Committee at which the bill was considered in preparation for resumption, then notice of resumption of debate shall be given no later than 2 clear days after that sitting".
Question on the motion proposed, put and agreed to.
Mrs. Miriam LAU moved the motion in Annex II and addressed the Council.
Question on the motion proposed.
Five Members spoke on the motion.
Mrs. Miriam LAU replied.
Question on the motion put. The President stated that he thought the motion had been carried.
Mrs. Miriam LAU claimed a division. The President then ordered the Council to divide under Standing Order 36(4).
The President announced that there were 11 votes for the motion and 36 votes against it. (Voting record in Annex III.) He declared that the motion was negatived.
The bills were read the first time and ordered to be set down for second reading pursuant to Standing Order 41(3).
The President stated that having studied the two, he had ruled that they were not substantially the same. The effect of his ruling was that the passage of any stage of the first bill would not impede the further proceeding of the second bill.
Mr. LEE Wing-tat moved the second reading and addressed the Council.
Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.
Mr. Bruce LIU moved the second reading and addressed the Council.
Question on the second reading proposed. The President stated that in accordance with Standing Orders, the debate was adjourned and the bill was referred to the House Committee.
Resumption of debate on second reading which had been moved on 13 March 1996.
The Attorney General spoke on the motion.
Mr. Bruce LIU replied.
Question on second reading put and agreed to.
Bill read the second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Council.
The Council went into Committee and considered the PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1996
Question that clauses 1 and 2 stand part of the bill proposed.
Question on clauses 1 and 2 put and agreed to.
The Council then resumed.
Mr. Bruce LIU reported that the
had passed through Committee without amendment. He moved that the bill be read the third time and do pass.
Question on the third reading proposed, put and agreed to.
Bill read the third time and passed.
In accordance with Standing Orders, the President adjourned the Council until Thursday, 18 April 1996.
Adjourned accordingly at twenty-seven minutes to seven oclock.
Last Updated on 29 July 1999
