58
Nomination of Standing Com- mittees.
Filling vacancies.
Committees to be
pen.
Nomination of Spe- dal Committees.
Juorum. Attendance on "ommittees.
eport by whom > be signed.
rder of business.
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MARCH 8, 1912.
COMMITTEES.
11.-At the first Meeting of the Council in each year, the President may appoint the following Standing Committees :---
(a.) FINANCE COMMITTEE consisting of the.Colonial Secretary (Chairman), and the other Members of Council except the Governor or Officer Ad- ministering the Government.
(b.) A LAW COMMITTEE consisting of the Attorney General (Chairman),
and four other Members.
(c.) A PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE consisting of the Director of Public
Works (Chairman), and four other Members.
12.--If any Member of either the Law Committee or the Public Works Committee shall die, or become incapable of acting, or be absent from the Colony, or resign by writing under his hand, or if from any cause his seat on either of such Committees becomes vacant, the President may, at any meeting of the Council, appoint another Member of Council, in his place, to be a Member of such Committee.
13.- All Members may attend the meetings of the Standing Committees of Council, but shall not join in the discussion or vote
14.--Every Special Committee shall consist of at least three Members who shall be nominated by the President: Provided that any Member may move that the name of another Member be substituted for any Member so nominated, and if the mo- tion be duly seconded the amendments shall, after debate, be put to the vote in accordance with Rules 30 and 31.
15.--No Special or Standing Committee shall be competent to act unless at least three of its Members be present. The Clerk shall attend upon any Special or Standing Committee if required by the Chairman thereof to do so.
16. The report, of every Committee shall be signed by the Chairman, or, in his absence, by the senior Member present. If there be any Minority Report it shall be attached, duly signed, to the report of the Committee.
BUSINESS.
17.-When the Minutes of the last Meeting have been confirmed in accordance with Rule 8, the following shall be the Order of Business :-
(a.) Messages or Minutes of the Governor; which may, however, be read at
any time during a Meeting.
(b.) Reports from Committees. The report shall be laid on the table by the Chairman of the Committee or in his absence by the senior Member of the Committee present.
Provided that in the case of a Bilt referred to a Standing or Special Committee, the report may be laid when the Bill is under consideration by the Council, and in accordance with the pro- cedure laid down in Rule 45.
(c.) Petitions in accordance with the procedure detailed in Rule 51. (d.) Notices of Motions which any Member may desire to bring forward on a day or at a Meeting to be specified. Provided that if notice be not so given at a Meeting it must be sent in writing to the Clerk at least three clear days before the Meeting at which it is intended to be brought forward.
No
(e.) Questions, of which notice must have been previously given in the same manner as laid down above for Motions. Provided that a ques- tion be put
may
without full notice if the President so permit. debate shall be allowed after a question has been duly answered. (f) Papers laid upon the table by permission of, or by order of, the President. (9.) The first, second or third readings and the Committee stages of Bills.
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