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(d)
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 18 below).
Legislation except for rare bills of a private, non-policy
nature, all bills are presented by Official members, ie 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, voting 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committee stage, or rarely, withdrawn for further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
(e)
(£)
(g)
Ordinances.
Questions: Questions
are addressed
y Unofficial members to
the Government on a wide range of either seeking information
An
or asking for action. The official members answer on behalf
of the administration.
Other Business Other business includes items normal to most
legislatures, eg
motions on subsidiary legislation,
statements and debates on policy (including Green Papers and
White Papers). Debates take place on a motion (in effect a
statement of view or call for action by the Council), or on
the adjournment (in effect a general statement of views by
individual members). A complete record of all papers laid
before the Council together with a verbatim record of proceedings (Hansard) is maintained.
Standing Committees: Two standing committees deal with public
expenditure:
(i)
Finance Committee: This consists of the Chief
Secretary (Chairman), the Financial Secretary, one other official member, (at present the Secretary for
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