RULES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG
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Precedence
20. If two Members rise to speak at the same time, the President when two Men- shall call upon one of them to address the Council.
bers rise to. gether.
A Member may not read his speech, but he may read extracts from Speech not to be written or printed papers in support of his argument.
read.
21.-It shall be the duty of the President on his own authority to President's au- enforce all these Rules: and when the President addresses the Council, thority. any Member speaking shall immediately resume his seat.
22.-No speech shall be made on presenting petition, such as may be necessary to explain its nature and object.
23. When a question has been asked and answered, no further de- bate thereon shall be permitted.
beyond speech on peti
24.-No Member may speak more than once on any question, except when the Council is in Committee.
The Mover of any motion may, however, reply at the close of a debate, and any Member may explain himself if he has been misappre- hended in any essential statement.
tion.
No debate on
question au- swered.
How often Mem-
bers may speak.
be seconded.
25.-The Mover of any motion or amendment may speak in support Motion or am- thereof; but no further debate shall be allowed, whether the Council be endent should in Committee or not, until the motion or amendment be duly seconded.
26.-If any amendment be proposed and seconded, it shall be con- Order in which sidered before the original question.
amendments should be enter.
If an amendment of a proposed amendment be moved and duly taiued. seconded, it shall be considered as if such previous amendment were an original question.
27. Any amendment moved and seconded may be required by the President to be committed to writing by the Mover and delivered to the ments to be Clerk.
28.-When a Bill is in Committee each Clause shall be read by the Clerk and shall then be put from the Chair, without Motion, by this Question:-
:-"“That this Clause shall stand part of the Bill," and the Clause shall be treated as a Motion, except that a Clause may be amended portion by portion, the earlier amendments having precedence of the later.
--
Proposed amend-
committed to writing.
clauses of Bills.
29. In filling up blauks in Bills, and in putting Questions of Filling Blanks. Amendment respecting Amounts of Money, or Periods of Time, the Question of the lowest Amount of Money or shortest Period of Time proposed shall be first put,
jority.
30.-All questions proposed for debate in the Legislative Council Question to be shall be decided by the majority of votes, and the Governor or the decided by ma Member presiding shall have an original vote in common with the other Members of the Council, as also a casting vote, if upon any question the originalandcast- votes shall be equal.
31.-On a division, the votes shall be taken by the Clerk.
Governor to have
ing vote.
Manner of vot.
The roll of Members present shall be read by the Clerk, beginning ing. with the Junior Member.
Each Member shall in his turn declare whether he is for or against the motion made.
The Clerk shall then read out the result, mentioning the total number of votes for and against respectively.
32. If any Member dissenting from the opinion of the majority Disscut. wish to have his dissent recorded, he shall state so forthwith; and the reasons of his dissent may be laid on the table either at the same or at the following ordinary meeting.
after question
33.--After a question has been put by the President no further No discussion discussion thereupon shall be allowed.
put.
34.-The Standing Orders of the Council may be suspended by the Suspension consent of the President and a majority of the Members presentle StaudingOrders.
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