FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1985
5
THE PROCEDURAL STAGES OF THE HONG KONG BILL
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EDITORS MAY WISH TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY OF THE STAGES THROUGH WHICH THE BILL WILL PASS:
HOUSE OF COMMONS:
WITHOUT
(A) FIRST READING. FORMAL INTRODUCTION OF THE BILL
DEBATE, FOLLOWED BY PUBLICATION OF THE BILL. (THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED).
(B)
SECOND READING. THE OCCASION FOR FULL DEBATE ON THE BILL'S GENERAL PRINCIPLES. THE CONVENTION IS FOR TWO WEEKENDS TO BE ALLOWED BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
(C) COMMITTEE STAGE. THE OCCASION FOR DETAILED SCRUTINY OF
THE BILL AND ANY AMENDMENTS WHICH MAY BE PROPOSED EITHER BY HMG OR BY ANY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
(D) REPORT STAGE.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY AMENDMENTS INTRODUCED
AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
(E) THIRD READING. THIS IS USUALLY TAKEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THE REPORT STAGE.
AT THIS STAGE OF THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS THE BILL IS REFERRED TO THE HOUSE OF LORDS WHERE THE PROCEDURE IS:
(A) FIRST READING.
(B) SECOND READING. A MINIMUM OF TWO WEEKENDS IS USUALLY
OBSERVED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.
(C)
COMMITTEE STAGE. THERE IS USUALLY A MINIMUM OF 14 DAYS BETWEEN THE SECOND READING AND THE START OF THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
(D) REPORT STAGE. THERE IS USUALLY AN INTERVAL OF ONE WEEK
BETWEEN THE COMMITTEE AND REPORT STAGES.
(E) THIRD READING. THERE IS USUALLY AN INTERVAL OF THREE
SITTING DAYS BETWEEN THE END OF THE REPORT STAGE AND THE THIRD READING.
(F) IF THE HOUSE OF LORDS AMEND THE BILL IT IS REFERRED BACK
TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. ROYAL ASSENT IS THEN SECURED.
THE TIMING OF THESE STAGES WILL DEPEND ON THE DECISIONS OF THOSE WHO ARRANGE PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS, IN THE LIGHT OF SUCH FACTORS AS THE PARLIAMENTARY TIME-TABLE AND MINISTERIAL AVAILABILITY.