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Support for urgent bid on reforms

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LEGISLATORS yesterday unanimously supported moves to raise an urgent question in the Legislative Council amid growing speculation that the Government has decided to delay gazetting its bills on electoral reform.

The question, drafted by veteran United Democrat Mr Szeto Wah, asks whether the Government has deferred the bills and if so, why.

It still needs the approval of the newly-elected Legco President, Mr John Swaine, before it can be raised in next week's sitting, although he is expected to give it the green light.

The bills giving effect to the constitutional package put forward by the Governor, Mr Chris Patten, were not gazetted yesterday, as previously expected. The Government has pledged to publish them this month.

The Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Michael Sze Cho-cheung, said yesterday the Government would definitely give an explanation if the bills had to be published after February.

''We have said in the past that we want to gazette the bills to implement Mr Patten's political reform within February,'' he said. ''If we are unable to publish the bills, we should give an explanation to the Legislative Council and the public.'' Legislators contacted yesterday remained divided on whether to support delaying the gazette move, saying this could be seen as a goodwill gesture to invite China's return to the negotiating table.

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