(B) PRESIDENT. THE GOVERNOR PRESIDES AT ALL SITTINGS OF COUNCIL
WHEN HE MS IN HONG KONG, AND HIS CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. IN HKS ABSENCE, A MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR (IN PRACTICE THE CHIEF SECRETARY) PRESIDES.
(C) SENHOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER. A LEADING UNOFFICIAL IS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS SENHOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. THIS APPOINTMENT EXISTS BY CONVENTION: NOT BY SPECIFICATION *IN STANDING ORDERS. HE OR SHE SHEPHERDS RATHER THAN LEADS LEGCO COLLEAGUES, AND DEALS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON PUBLIC BUSINESS GENERALLY AS WELL AS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND UMELCO CONTEXTS. (UMELCO IS A GROUP ESTABLISHED BY LONG CONVENTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: SEE PARA. 19 BELOW)
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(D) LEGISLATION. EXCEPT FOR RARE BILLS OF A PRIVATE, NON-POLICY
NATURE, ALL BILLS ARE PRESENTED BY OFFICIAL MEMBERS, .E. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR SECRETARIES IN CHARGE OF MAJOR PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS, ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. BILLS ARE SUBJECT TO THREE READINGS AND A COMMITTEE STAGE. THE QUESTION IS PUT AT EACH STAGE AND IS DECIDED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTES. UNTIL NOW, VOTHING HAS BEEN RARE: BILLS ARE AMENDED BY CONSENSUS BEFORE OR AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, OR RARELY, WITHDRAWN FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. BILLS WHICH HAVE PASSED THE COUNCIL RECEIVE THE ASSENT OF THE GOVERNOR AND ARE THEN PUBLISHED AS ORDENANCES.
(E) QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE GOVERNMENT, ON A WIDE RANGE OF #SSUES EITHER SEEKING INFORMATION OR ASKING FOR ACTION. THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS ANSWER ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
(F) OTHER BUSINESS. OTHER BUSINESS INCLUDES #TEMS NORMAL TO
MOST LEGISLATURES, E.G. MOTIONS ON SUBSIDHARY LEGISLATION, STATEMENTS AND DEBATES ON POLICY (INCLUDING GREEN PAPERS AND WHITE PAPERS). DEBATES TAKE PLACE ON A MOTION (WN EFFECT A STATEMENT OF VIEW OR CALL FOR ACTION BY THE COUNCIL), OR ON THE ADJOURNMENT (HAN EFFECT A GENERAL STATEMENT OF WHEWS BY #INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS). A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL PAPERS LAID BEFORE THE COUNCIL TOGETHER WITH A VERBATIM RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS (HANSARD) IS MAINTAHNED.
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