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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG.

XVIII.-Imputations of improper motives shall be considered disorderly, and upon the motion being carried shall be entered upon the minutes.

PROGRESS OF ORDINANCES.

XIX. On moving the first reading of every ordinance, 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.

XX. At the first reading of every ordinance, the clerk shall read the title, and, immediately after, some day shall be appointed for the second reading. Except in cases of emergency, ten days shall clapse between the first and second reading of an ordinance. XXI. The Draft of every ordinance presented to the Council shall after the first reading, unless otherwise ordered, be published in the next issue of the Government Ga- zette, with a notice fixing the date up to which observations thereon will be received by the Clerk of Councils; and a printed copy of such Draft shall be furnished to each member with convenient despatch.

XXII. An adjourment of the discussion of any question may be moved at any time, and if seconded, may be adopted or not by the majority.

XXIII.-The substance of every amendment not in committee shall be forwarded by the intended mover three days before the second reading, to the clerk, and may, with the consent of the Governor, be introduced into the ordinance. Amendments in committee shall be similarly dealt with, save that they may be made during the discussion.

XXIV.—Ño question can be put to the vote during the discussion of an ordinance, which is substantially 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.

XXV.-Upon the motion for the second reading of an ordinance, its general merits and principle shall be then discussed, and if the motion be carried, the title only of the ordinance shall be read, and thereupon the Council shall go into committee immediately on the clauses of such ordinance, or shall appoint a future day for that purpose.

XXVI. 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 proposed ordinance. On the ordinance being committed or re-committed, the committee shall discuss its several provisions, and any proposed amend- ments; and adjourn such discussions from time to time, as occasion may require.

XXVII. In discussion in committee, any member may propose an amendment, but no amendments can be proposed upon an amendment under discussion.

XXVIII.—After an ordinance has been approved in committee, the question to be put shall be "that the ordinance do pass?," and if the question be carried in the affirma- tive, the clerk shall read the title only of the ordinance.

XXIX.—When any ordinance shall be proposed whereby vested rights and interests of property will be unavoidably affected, due notice shall be given to all parties concerned by Notification in the Government Gazette, one month before the first reading of such ordinance; and such Notification shall appear at least three times in the said Gazette; and before going into committee on the said ordinance, the same shall be published three times in the said Gazette

XXX.-In cases of emergency, or where no amendments whatever, or only amend- ments of an unimportant nature, shall be proposed to be made to an ordinance, it may be moved that the standing rules relative to the reading and commitment of the ordinance be suspended; and if adopted by two-thirds of the members present, and sanctioned by the Governor, it may be carried through its several stages at one sitting.

CLERK OF COUNCILS.

XXXI. The clerk 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, minutes of the pro- ceedings of the Council.

XXXII. 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

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