- 7
-
Committee stage amendments
11
Standing Order 45(2) of the Legislative Council requires that notices of amendments proposed to be moved to a bill shall be given not less than
given not less than four clear days before the day on which the bill is
the bill is to be considered in committee. The Official Member responsible for the bill in the Legislative Council will decide in consultation with the Director of Information Services whether publicity on the amendments is required. If it is necessary, the Official Member will have the press release prepared and cleared, if required,
if required, by the Law Draftsman, before sending it to the Clerk to the Legislative Council for issue, first, to UMELCO together with the amendments and the speech introducing them; and, second, to the press through the Information Services Department. The press release and the committee stage amendments should be distributed to the news media as early as possible so as to allow time (at least seven days)
seven days) for possible public opinion. This is especially relevant to the more controversial bills. If such notice cannot be given in time for the next sitting, postponement of the committee stage and third reading should be considered. This procedure should be followed even if the proposed amendments have been fully agreed by UMELCO.
12
In order that the Councils Division can distribute committee stage amendments to the news media through Information Services Department, the finalized text of committee stage amendments must be received in the Councils Division, together with the formal notice given by the Member moving such amendments, not later than the Tuesday of the week preceding the Legislative Coouncil sitting.
13
Substantial amendments which require to be proposed at the committee stage of a bill, which affect in a significant way the policy behind the legislation as opposed merely to improving the method of implementation, should be referred to the Chief Secretary for his decision on whether the prior approval of the Executive Council should be sought.
Duties of the Principal Assistant Secretary of the Branch concerned
14
The Principal Assistant Secretary involved in the passage of a bill has the following duties in connection with the Council's proceedings