LC Paper No. LS 169/98-99

Members may recall that the Legal Service Division made a report to the House Committee meeting on 4 December 1998 on the Bill (LegCo Paper No. LS 66/98-99 refers). To recap, the Bill deals with the adaptation of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32), the Bills of Sale Ordinance (Cap. 20), the Limited Partnerships Ordinance (Cap. 37) and the Money Lenders Ordinance (Cap. 163).

2. At the meeting, Members agreed to defer the consideration of this Bill until the Bills Committee on the Adaptation of Laws Bill 1998 and the Adaptation of Laws (No. 2) Bill 1998 had completed their work.

3. Those two other Bills have been passed by the Legislative Council on 28 April 1999 and 31 March 1999 respectively. In light of the decision of the two Bills Committees on the adaptation of the reference that "the Governor" should not be adapted to "the Chief Executive in Council" but should be mechanically adapted to "Chief Executive", the Administration has now proposed similar CSAs on this Bill (see annex).

4. With regard to other amendments, they are essentially technical drafting changes. References to the "Crown" in the Companies Ordinance are adapted to "the Government" since they relate to debts owed to the "Crown" and property deemed to be bona vacantia shall belong to the "Crown".

5. With the proposed CSAs from the Adminstration, we are satisfied that the legal and drafting aspects of the Bill are in order. Unless Members have other views, a Bills Committee may not be necessary. Members are recommended to support the Bill and Second Reading debate may be resumed.


Encl


Prepared by
HO Ying-chu, Anita
Assistant Legal Adviser
Legislative Council Secretariat
30 April 1999