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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Stephen Lam, at a media session at the Legislative Council Complex this evening (May 10):
The proposals to deal with vacancies arising from resignations in the Legislative Council are an important set of recommendations. I would like to emphasise three aspects.
Firstly, there is mainstream public opinion which does not regard it proper for a legislator to resign and thereafter take part in a by-election. Therefore the proposal now to restrict any Legislative Councillor who has resigned from taking part in a by-election within six months is reasonable, is constitutional and is legal. It has broad public opinion support, and we hope that this proposal can be enacted into law.
Secondly, it is very necessary for all legislators to respect the spirit of the Rules of Procedure. It would not be proper for anyone to make use of any loopholes to waste public resources or to waste legislative time.
Thirdly, we still have over 10 bills being scrutinised in the Legislative Council. To this date, we have been co-operating very well for SAR Government and the legislators. All procedures for studying, scrutinising these bills in the bills committees have been proceeding very smoothly. We very much hope that it will still be possible for us to complete our legislative programme within the remaining term of our Administration.
It is very necessary for Hong Kong to have a proper set of procedures and arrangements to deal with vacancies arising from resignations of legislators.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, May 10, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:19
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