C128
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (POWERS AND PRIVILEGES) BILL
(2) The President may, by notice published in the Gazette, order that any part of a building, forecourt, yard, garden, enclosure or open space referred to in the definition in subsection (1) of "precincts of the Chamber" shall be excluded from that definition, either generally or for a specific purpose and either temporarily or permanently.
Freedom of speech and debate.
Immunity from
·legal proceedings.
Freedom from arrest.
Service of civil process and exemptions.
(Cap. 3.)
Evidence of
proceedings in the Council or any committee not
to be given without leave.
Regulation of admittance of strangers to
PART II
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES
3. There shall be freedom of speech and debate in the Council or proceedings before a committee, and such freedom of speech and debate shall not be liable to be questioned in any court or place outside the Council.
4. No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted against any member for words spoken before, or written in a report to, the Council or a committee, or by reason of any matter brought by him therein by petition, Bill, resolution, motion or otherwise.
5. No member shall be liable to arrest-
(a) for any civil debt (except a debt the contraction of which constitutes a criminal offence) whilst going to, attending at or returning from a sitting of the Council or a committee;
(b) for any criminal offence whilst attending at a sitting of the Council or a
committee.
6. (1) No process issued by any court in Hong Kong or elsewhere in the exercise of its civil jurisdiction shall be served or executed within the precincts of the Chamber while the Council is sitting, nor shall any such process be served or executed through the President or any officer of the Council unless it relates to a person employed within the precincts of the Chamber.
(2) Except by leave of the Council obtained in accordance with the Standing Orders, no member shall be required to attend as a witness in any civil proceedings on a day when the Council is sitting.
(3) A member shall be exempted from service as a juror in accordance with section 5 of the Jury Ordinance.
7. (1) No member or officer of the Council, and no person employed to take minutes or keep any record of evidence before the Council or a committee, shall give evidence elsewhere in respect of the contents of such minutes or record of evidence, or of the contents of any document laid before the Council or committee, as the case may be, or in respect of any proceedings or examination held before the Council or committee, as the case may be, without the special leave of the Council.
(2) During a recess or adjournment of the Council, the special leave referred to in subsection (1) may be given by the President or, if the President is unable to act owing to his absence from Hong Kong or incapacity, in accordance with the Standing Orders.
8. (1) No stranger shall be entitled, as of right, to enter or to remain within the precincts of the Chamber; and the President, or any officer of the Council Council Chamber. authorized in that behalf by an order issued under subsection (2), may at any time
order any stranger to withdraw therefrom.
(2) The President may from time to time issue such orders as he may deem necessary or expedient for regulating the admittance of strangers to and the conduct of strangers within the Chamber and the precincts of the Chamber.
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