43
· 12 -
To avoid confusion, the Working Group
recommends that the Chief Secretary should move
suspension of Standing Order 8(2) at 6 p.m. as a matter of rule unless the circumstances are such that it is very clear that the proceedings can be concluded in two or three minutes (e.g. if an Official is winding up in an adjournment debate.). As proceedings rarely go beyond 5 p.m., the need for this motion would be minimal.
Committee stage amendments to bills
44
Committee stage amendments to bills are often the result of Unofficials' work on the bills, taking into account public representations and negotiations with Officials. However the actual moving of the amendments in committee of the whole Council is usually done by the official in charge of the bill.
45
It is recommended that where amendments have been proposed or prompted by Unofficials the moving of amendments to bills in a committee of the whole council should be undertaken by them. This would make more explicit their work on legislation.
46
As regards giving notice of proposed amendments to a bill in a committee of the whole Council, S.0. 45(2) at present requires that notice shall be given not less than "three clear days" before the bill is to be considered in committee. The Working Group recommends that this be changed to "four clear days" in order to be consistent with the provision for motions and questions, and to allow due publicity to be given to proposed amendments.
Informal correction of minor errors in bills
47
The minor nature of some of committee stage amendments is touched upon in paragraph 9. In other commonwealth jurisdictions there is considerable scope. for informal correction of typographical, cross referencing and other minor errors in bills. In Hong Kong this process is limited by the unwritten convention that amendments are not made between consideration by the Executive Council and introduction into the Legislative Council. Thus even very minor amendments have sometimes to be made formally with other amendments of substance at the committee stage. the United Kingdom "drafting" amendments not affecting the
In