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APPENDIX H.
Rules and Bye Laws submitted for Amendment to the Half-yearly General Meeting of
the Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce, 16th November, 1863.
ORIGINAL RULES.
IV.
That candidates for admission, proposed by one Member and seconded by another, shall be balloted for, due notice having been given, and majority of votes shall decide the election.
VIII.
That any Member or Members, not less than seven, (in addition to the Members of the Committee, present,) shall be held to constitute General Meeting, called in conformity with the Rules of the Chamber for the despatch of ordinary business.
IX.
That the Business and Funds of the Chamber be managed by a Committee of Nine Members, consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Seven Members, to be elected annually at a General Meeting of the Chamber in the month of May. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Committee to choose another from its number. Four to form a quorum, and the Chairman in cases of equality to have the casting vote in addition to his own.
X.
That the Committee shall meet on such day of every fortnight, and at other times when summoned by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, as
RULES AS AMENDED,
IV.
That candidates for admission proposed by one Member and seconded by another shall be elected at one of the two half-yearly Meetings by a majority of votes of the Members then present, or in the interval between such Meetings, by the Committee, subject to confirmation at the next ensuing General Meeting.
VIII.
That any Member or Members not less than Fifteen shall be held to constitute a General Meeting called in conformity with the rules of the Chamber, whether half-yearly or special.
IX.
That the Business and Funds of the Chamber be managed by a Committee of Nine Members consisting of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Seven Members, to be elected annually, at a General Meeting of the Chamber in the month of May. Four to form a quorum and the Chairman in cases of equality to have the casting vote in addition to his own.
X.
That the Committee shall meet once a fortnight on such day as may be fixed for the transaction of business, and at other times when summoned by the Chairman or in his absence by the Vice-Chairman. The proceedings to be laid on the table, open to the inspection of Members, subject to such regulations as the Committee may deem expedient.
XIII.
That the General Meetings of the Chamber be held on 1st May and 1st November of each year; and that special General Meetings shall be called by the Chairman, or in his absence by the Vice-Chairman, or by the order of either, on the requisition of any Five Members of the Chamber, to be held within ten days subsequent to the receipt of such requisition.
XIV.
All important questions affecting the Trade of the Port, and its political or Commercial relations with the Empire of China, or with other States, shall be discussed at a General Meeting, to be convened by the Committee for that purpose; and action shall only be taken in accordance with resolutions passed at such Meeting.
XIII.
That the General Meetings of the Chamber shall be held in May and November of each year; and that special Meetings shall be called by the Chairman or in his absence by the Vice-Chairman on the requisition of any Five Members of the Chamber, to be held within ten days subsequent to the receipt of such requisition.
XIV.
That all important questions affecting the Trade of the Port, and its Political or Commercial relations with the Empire of China or with other States may be discussed at any half-yearly General Meeting or special General Meeting for that purpose convened, in the manner provided for by Rule 13.
XVI.
That a Half-yearly Report of the proceedings be prepared, and after being approved at a General Meeting, printed and circulated.
XVII.
That all disbursements shall be made on orders signed by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman; and all accounts shall be submitted to, and audited by, Two Members of the Chamber at each Half-yearly Meeting.
ORIGINAL BYE LAWS.
IV.
No documents belonging to the Chamber shall be removed during Office hours, nor shall any minute of its proceedings be made public without a resolution of the Chamber.
V.
Notice of any proposition or business to be laid before the Half-yearly General Meetings, the Fortnightly Meeting of the Committee, or any Special Meeting, shall be given to the Secretary at least forty-eight hours before the Meeting, who in the circular calling such Meeting will state the business or proposition, and by whom to be brought forward.
VI.
The means to provide a suitable Establishment, and to defray expenses shall be raised in the following manner: By subscriptions, by the sale of statements of Trade, by fees on Arbitrations and References, by fees for certified copies of the Records and other Documents in the Archives of the Chamber, and by voluntary gifts and contributions, either in money, maps, books, or anything which may be useful to the Institution.
VII.
The Committee shall appoint every six months Five from their Number, Three of whom shall be the Acting Committee, to decide on all cases submitted for the Arbitration of the Chamber, whose power shall continue so long as any business brought before them during their period of service is undecided.
IX.
The Disputants in an Arbitration case shall be held to guarantee the fees jointly to the Chamber.
X.
The Arbitration Committee shall appoint its own Chairman and confine its functions to cases when its intervention or advice is requested, and on no occasion shall it proceed on any case un...
XVI.
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That the Funds of the Chamber shall be paid into one of the Banks under an account to be opened by the Committee and that all Cheques shall be signed by the Secretary to the Chamber, Countersigned by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, or in their absence by one of the Committee, that all disbursements shall be sanctioned by the Committee at their ordinary Meetings, and that an account shall be audited by two Members of the Chamber and laid before each half-yearly General Meeting.
XVII.
That a Half-yearly Report of the proceedings be prepared, and after being approved at a General Meeting, printed and circulated.
BYE LAWS AS AMENDED,
IV.
No documents belonging to the Chamber shall be removed during Office hours, nor shall any minute of its proceedings be made public without an order of the Committee.
V.
Notice of any proposition or business to be laid before the Half-yearly General Meeting or any Special Meeting shall be given to the Secretary at least forty-eight hours before the Meeting, who, in the circular calling such Meeting will state the business or proposition, and by whom to be brought forward.
VI.
The means to provide a suitable Establishment, and to defray expense in addition to the Subscriptions fixed by Rule 3, shall be raised in the following manner: By the sale of Statements of Trade, by fees on Arbitration and References, by fees for certified copies of the Records and other Documents in the Archives of the Chamber, and by voluntary gifts and contributions either in money, maps, books, or anything which may be useful to the Institution.
VII.
The Committee shall appoint every six months Five from their Number, three of whom in regular succession shall be the Acting Committee to decide on all cases submitted to the Arbitration of the Chamber, whose functions shall continue so long as any business brought before them during their period of service is undecided.
IX.
The Disputants in an Arbitration case shall be held to guarantee the fees jointly and severally to the Chamber.
X.
The Arbitration Committee shall appoint its own Chairman and confine its functions to cases when its intervention or advice is requested, and on no occasion shall it proceed with any case...