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FE/1335 C2/7
The rules of procedure of the Legislative Council shall be established by the council on its own, but they shall not contravene this law.
Article 79. A bill passed by the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR takes effect only after it is signed and promulgated by the chief executive.
Article 80. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall not be legally liable for speeches and votes made at meetings of the council.
Article 81. Members of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR shall not be subject to arrest without the council's approval, unless they are criminals in action.
Article 82. At the decision of the Legislative Council, a member of the Legislative Council of the Macao SAR is no longer qualified to serve under any of the following circumstances:
(1) When he/she loses the ability to discharge the functions of his/her office due to serious illness or other
reasons;
(2) When he/she assumes another office not permitted by law;
(3) When he/she is absent from meetings for five consecutive occasions or for 15 intermittent occasions without the consent of the president of the Executive Council, and without a legitimate explanation;
(4) When he/she breaches his/her oath as a member of the Legislative Council; and
(5) When he/she is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for 30 days or more for a criminal offence committed within or outside the Macao SAR,
Section 4: Judicial Organs
Article 83. The courts of the Macao SAR exercise the judicial power of the region.
Article 84. The courts of the Macao SAR exercise judicial power independently according to law, free from any interference.
Article 85. A lower court, an intermediate court and a final court of appeal shall be established in the Macao SAR.
The power of final adjudiction of the Macao SAR is vested in the Final Court of Appeal in the region.
The structure, powers, functions and operation of the courts of the Macao SAR shall be prescribed by law.
Article 86. The lower court of the Macao SAR may establish several special tribunals based on needs.
The original court of criminal procedure shall be retained.
Article 87. An Appraisal Court [Chinese: ping zheng yuan 6097 2398 7108] shall be established in the Macao SAR. This is a court in charge of administrative procedure and tax procedure. Anyone who disagrees with the Appraisal Court's adjudication may pursue the case at the Intermediate Court.
Article 88. Judges of the courts of the Macao SAR shall be appointed by the chief executive acting in accordance with the recommendation of an independent commission composed of
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local judges, lawyers and other eminent persons. The selection of judges is based on their professional qualifications. Qualified foreign judges may also be hired.
A judge may be removed for inability to discharge the functions of his/her office, or for actions incompatible with his/her office, by the chief exucutive acting upon the recommendation of a tribunal composed of at least three local judges appointed by the president of the Final Court of Appeal.
The removal of a judge of the Final Court of Appeal shall be made by the chief executive at the recommendation of the Examination Committee composed of members of the Macao SAR.
The appointment and removal of judges of the Final Court of Appeal shall be reported to the NPC Standing Committee for the record.
Article 89. The presidents of courts at various levels in the Macao SAR shall be appointed by the chief executive from among the judges.
The presidency of the Final Court of Appeal shall be assumed by a Chinese citizen chosen from the permanent residents of the Macao SAR.
The appointment and removal of the president of the Final Court of Appeal shall be reported to the NPC Standing Committee for the record.
Article 90. Judges in the Macao SAR hear cases according to law without having to follow any order or instruction, except under the circumstances prescribed in the third paragraph of Article 19 of this law.
The conduct of a judge when he/she performs his/her duty in hearing a case is not legally liable.
During his/her tenure of office, a judge shall not assume any other public or private office, nor shall he/she assume any office in a political organization.
Article 91. The Procuratorate of the Macao SAR exercises the procuratorial powers and functions vested in it by law without any outside interference.
The chief procurator of the Macao SAR shall be a Chinese citizen who is a permanent resident of the Macao SAR He/she shall be nominated by the chief executive and reported to the central people's government for appointment.
Procurators shall be nominated by the chief procurator and appointed by the chief executive.
The structure, powers, functions and operation of the procuratorate shall be prescribed by law.
Article 92. The original system of appointment and removal of judicial assistants shall be retained.
Article 93. Based on the original measures in Macao, the government of the Macao SAR may draw up regulations concerning businesses operated by local and non-local lawyers in the Macao SAR
Article 94. The judicial organs of the Macao SAR may, through consultations and in accordance with law, maintain judicial relations with those of other parts of the country, and they may render assistance to each other.