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XV. Any Member may protest in writing against any decision of the Council, provided he XXXI. After a Bill has been approved in Committee, the question to be put shall be, "That give notice of his intention immediately after such decision, and that such written Protest be delivereds Bill do pass?" and if the question be carried in the affirmative, the Clerk shall read the Title To the Clerk within seven days after such decision. It shall be competent to the Council to expungely of the Ordinance. any passage deemed offensive in such Protest.
XVI. The Members of Council shall have freedom of speech, and shall not at any time be ques tioned by Government for anything they have said therein.
XVII. In the general discussion, no Member shall be at liberty to speak more than once, except in explanation, or on the Clauses of a Bill in Committee, but a reply shall be allowed to a Member who has made a substantive Motion, not being an Amendment.
XVIII. In the absence of the Governor at any Meeting of the Council, the Member who shall be first in precedence of those present, shall preside and exercise all such powers as may be vested in the Governor by these Standing Orders.
CLERK OF COUNCILS.
XIX. The Clerk, unless otherwise ordered by the Governor, shall read all matters brought before the Council, He shall keep a Journal in which shall be entered, in the order in which they occur, the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Council.
XX. All existing and future Records and Papers, and all Papers heretofore, or hereafter to be laid before the Council, shall be deposited with the Clerk, who shall be responsible for the safe custody thereof, and shall have all suck Papers ready to be produced before the Council, whenever the same may be required by any Member; and such Papers, and the Order and Journal Books, shall be at all reasonable times open to the inspection and perusal of any Member.
PETITIONS.
XXI. Petitions may be presented to the Governor by any Member, immediately after the Minutes of the previous Meeting have been confirmed; and every Member presenting a Petition, shall satisfy himself that the Petition is respectful and deserving of presentation.
XXII. Any Member may move that such Petition be read, but in so doing he shall state the purport of the Petition, with his reasons for wishing it read, and the motion being seconded, the question may be put-- Whether the Petition shall be read?"
PROGRESS OF BILLS.
XXII. On moving the First Reading of every Bill, the grounds and reasons upon which it is founded shall be stated, either by the Governor, or by any Official Member called upon by him for the purpose; but no discussion shall take place thereon.
XXIV. At the First Reading of every Bill, the Clerk shall read the Title only, and, immediately after, some day may be appointed for the Second Reading. Except in cases of emergency, Seven days shall elapse between the first and second reading of a Bill.
XXV. Every Bill presented to the Council shall, after the first reading, unless otherwise ordered, be published in the next issue of the Government Gazette; and a printed copy of such Bill shall be furnished to each Member with convenient despatch.
XXVI. An Adjournment of the Discussion of any question may be moved at any time, and
if seconded, shall forthwith be put to the vote.
XXVII. Any Member may propose an amendment at any time during the progress of a Bill, but no amendment may be proposed upon an amendment which is under discussion.
XXVIII. No question can be put to the vote during the discussion of a Bill which is substan- tially the same as one on which the judgment of the Council has already been expressed,---unless for the
purpose of correcting an error, and with the consent of the Governor.
XXIX. Upon the motion for the second reading of a Bill, its general merits and principle shall be discussed, and if such second reading be assented to, the Title only of the Bill shall be read, and thereupon the Council shall go into Committee immediately on the Clauses of such Bill, or shall appoint a future day for that purpose.
XXX. It shall be competent for the Council, with the consent of the Governor, to appoint a Special Committee for the purpose of examining into and reporting to the Council on the Clauses of any Bill. On the Bill being committed or re-committed, the Committee shall discuss its several provisions, and any proposed ainendinents; and adjourn such discussions from time to time, as occasion may require.
XXXII. When any Bill shall be proposed whereby vested rights and interests of property will unavoidably affected, due notice shall be given to all parties concerned by Notification in the Gwernment Gazette, One Month before the first reading of such Bill; and such Notification shall- year at least Three times in the said Gazette; and before going into Committee on the said Bill, the me shall be published Three times in the said Gazette.
XXXIII. In cases of emergency, or where no amendments whatever, or only amendments of an important nature, shall be proposed to be made to a Bill, it may be moved that the Standing Rules dative to the reading and commitment of the Bill be suspended; and if adopted by Two-thirds of he Members present, and sanctioned by the Governor, it may be carried through its several stages at
e sitting.
PRIVATE RIGHTS.
XXXIV. In any case where individual rights or interests of property may be peculiarly affected any proposed Bill, all Parties interested may, on motion made, seconded, and "carried, "be heard efore the Council, or any Committee thereof, either in person, or by their Advocate.
WITNESSES.
XXXV. When it is intended to examine any Witnesses, the Member, or the Petitioner, quiring such Witnesses, shall deliver to the Clerk a list containing the Names and Residences of sch Witnesses, at least Two Days before the day appointed for their examination. The Evidence of very such Witness shall be taken down by the Clerk and be signed by the Witness.
XXXVI. The Standing Rules and Orders of the 12th day of July, 1858, are hereby rescinded.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 2nd Day of July, 1873.
1. D'ALMADA E CASTRO, Clerk of Councils.