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Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Patrick Lau, in moving the Second Reading of the Adaptation of Laws (No.7) Bill 1998 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Madam President,

I move that the Adaptation of Laws (No.7) Bill 1998 be read the second time.

The Bill seeks to effect necessary adaptations to seven Ordinances relating to general land matters to bring them into conformity with the Basic Law and with the status of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

Some of the references contained in these seven Ordinances, such as "the Governor", "the Colony" and "the Crown", are inconsistent with the Basic Law or with the status of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, and need to be amended as appropriate. Although the Hong Kong Reunification Ordinance and the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance already laid down how terminology inconsistent with the Basic Law or with the status of Hong Kong as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China are to be construed, it is considered unacceptable to retain such terminology in our laws. Accordingly, we now need to introduce the Bill to effect the necessary textual amendments.

Most of the proposed amendments are merely terminological changes. These adaptations when passed into law shall take effect retrospectively, as from the date of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The Bill obviates the need to make cross references to the Hong Kong Reunification Ordinance and the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance. I hope Members can support the Bill.

Thank you, Madam President.

End/Wednesday, November 18, 1998

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