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more than fifteen Unofficial Members, appointed by the
Governor on instructions from the Crown.
The Legislative Council has two main functions:
it is the law making body of Hong Kong and it controls the
expenditure of public funds.
The introduction of a bill into the Legislative
Council is normally authorised by the Governor, having
received the advice of the Executive Council. The first
reading is a formal reading of the title of the bill.
The second reading commences by the member in
charge explaining the purpose of the bill. Debate normally
follows at the next sitting of Council. This allows unofficial
members publicly to express their views and, if necessary, to
press for amendments. When every member who wishes to
has spoken, the bill is formally read a second time.
The bill then proceeds to the Committee Stage,
during which the bill is considered clause by clause.
amendments which might have been proposed during the second
reading are considered at this stage and are resolved by
majority vote.
Any
The third reading is formal. It consists of the
Attorney General reporting to the full Council that the
Committee has considered the bill clause by clause and
approved it, with or without amendment. The President
then puts the question that the bill be read a third time