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SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1985
'NEW LOOK' LEGCO SET FOR SEPTEMBER
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A NEW CHAPTER IN THE HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL UNFOLD THIS AUTUMN, WHEN INDIRECTLY ELECTED MEMBERS WILL JOIN THE DECISION-MAKING BODY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE +NEW LOOK+ LEGCO WILL CONDUCT ITS PROCEEDINGS IN ITS OWN PREMISES IN THE OLD SUPREME COURT BUILDING
JACKSON ROAD.
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THE COUNCIL WILL THEN HAVE 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ELECTED FROM AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE, ANOTHER 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ELECTED FROM NINE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES, 22 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND 10 OFFICIAL MEMBERS.
+IT WILL HAVE GONE A LONG WAY SINCE IT WAS FIRST CONSTITUTED IN 1843, + A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY,
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS THEN MADE UP BY THREE OFFICIAL MEMBERS, AND ITS FIRST MEETING WAS HELD, IN CAMERA, IN 1844.
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+ IT WAS SIX YEARS LATER IN 1850 - WHEN THE FIRST TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE APPOINTED TO THE COUNCIL, HE SAID.
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+ THE NUMBER INCREASED TO THREE IN 1855, AND MEETINGS WERE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1858, + HE ADDED.
MORE UNOFFICIALS JOINED THE COUNCIL STEADILY OVER THE YEARS, AND THEY OUTNUMBERED OFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1976.
WHEN THE NEW LEGCO IS ASSEMBLED THIS AUTUMN, UNOFFICIALS WILL OUTNUMBER OFFICIALS BY MORE THAN FOUR TO ONE.
BUT ALTHOUGH ITS MEMBERSHIP WILL CHANGE, ITS PRIMARY FUNCTION WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION.
+LEGISLATION IS ENACTED IN THE FORM OF BILLS, WHICH GO THROUGH THREE READINGS AND A COMMITTEE STAGE WITH A QUESTION BEING PUT AT EACH STAGE AND DECIDED BY THE MAJORITY OF VOTES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+ IF A CLEAR MAJORITY EITHER FOR OR AGAINST ANY MOTION IS NOT APPARENT FROM A VOICE VOTE, THE PRESIDENT MAY ORDER THE COUNCIL OR THE COMMITTEE TO PROCEED TO A DIVISION, WHEN VOTES WILL THEN BE TAKEN FROM MEMBERS INDIVIDUALLY AND RECORDED BY THE CLERK TO THE COUNCIL, HE SAID.
ALL BILLS, AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, RECEIVE THE ASSENT OF THE GOVERNOR AND ARE THEN GAZETTED AS ORDINANCES.
APART FROM