· 4
Finance Committee and Public Works Sub-Committee Meetings
12.
of
There will
will be no change in the frequency these meetings. Meetings will commence after the full Legislative Council sitting ends. Finance Committee will normally meet in the Council Chamber, while the Public Works Sub-Committee will meet in a conference room in the building.
Question Time
13.
Except on special occasions (e.g. the Governor's Address) there will continue to be a question time at each sitting. Except as provided in paragraph 14 below, the procedures for handling questions will remain as set out in General Circular No. 2/85: Practices and Procedures of the Legislative Council.
Translation of Documents
14.
It is the intention that, where practicable, all Legislative Council documents should be provided in both English and Chinese. Official Members should ensure that documents requiring translation are sent to the Chinese Language Division at least three clear working days before the sitting and copies
and copies of their speeches and answers to questions in both languages are sent to the Clerk to the Legislative Council not later than 5 p.m. on the day before the sitting together with
indication of the language which will be used for delivery. In exceptional cases, (for example of a speech for which the drafting cannot be completed until the last moment) a translation of speeches may be provided at the first available opportunity following a sitting.
15.
For the time being it will not be possible for the Law Draftsman to provide Chinese translations of legislation. In the future it is the intention that legislation should be enacted in both English Chinese, but this will take some time to achieve.
and
16.
In cases where there is likely to be widespread public interest in legislation Branch Secretaries should consider making arrangements with the Commissioner for Chinese Language for
Chinese translation to be provided and with the Clerk of Councils for these to be published in Supplement 5 to
to the Gazette for general information. In view of the lead time required for the translation of legislation, the Commissioner will require early warning of any such requirement.