Press Release

 

 

LC: Adaptation of Law Bill 2000

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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, in resumption of the Adaptation of Laws Bill 2000 for second reading and moving the Bill for third reading in the Legislative Council today (December 20):

Resumption of the second reading debate:

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Madam President,

The Adaptation of Laws Bill 2000 seeks to bring terminological amendments to the Private Bills Ordinance, the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance and the Legislative Council Commission Ordinance, so as to bring them into conformity with the Basic Law and with Hong Kong's status as a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.

At the Bills Committee, Members discussed whether certain provisions in the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance were consistent with the Basic Law. The Administration has explained that, as in the adaptation of other legislation, two important principles were adopted in the current exercise. First, provisions of laws currently in force should be retained as far as possible. Hence, safeguards provided in existing local laws but not in the Basic Law should be retained, provided that they do not contravene the Basic Law. Secondly, the Basic Law is part and parcel of the laws in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. As such, the relevant provisions in the Basic Law could be relied on to complement the statutory protections under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, where the protection to Legislative Council Members is less than that provided for in the Basic Law.

In the light of these two principles, we are of the view that the difference in scope does not render section 14(2) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance inconsistent with Article 48(11) of the Basic Law. Moreover, Article 48(11) of the Basic Law has already been reflected in Rule 80 of the Legislative Council Rules of Procedure and, pursuant to section 15 of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance, matters relating to evidence and production of documents before the Legislative Council or its committees should be determined in accordance with the usage and practice of the Council. We do not therefore consider it necessary to amend section 14(2) of the Ordinance.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bills Committee for their efforts, without which the scrutiny of the Bill would not have been completed so expeditiously.

Madam President, I urge Members to support the Adaptation of Laws Bill 2000. Thank you.

Third reading :

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Madam President,

The Adaptation of Laws Bill 2000 has passed through Committee without amendments. I move that this Bill be read the Third time and do pass.

End/ Wednesday, December 20, 2000

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