Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 653

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG.

STANDING ORDERS AND RULES

FOR

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.

163

GENERAL RULES.

I. Two days' notice shall be given of any meeting of Council to each member by the Clerk of Councils; but, in cases of urgency, the Governor may dispense with the necessity of the two days' notice.

Should circumstances occur to render a meeting on any day appointed for the same inconvenient, the Council may be adjourned to such early day as the Governor shall appoint by a notice in writing, to be transmitted to each member by the clerk one day prior to the period which had been appointed.

II.-The hour of meeting, except under special circumstances, shall be at 2.30 P.M.; and if any member shall move that the Council do adjourn, and if such motion be seconded, it shall be put to the vote.

III.-No member shall absent himself from Council, without communicating to the Governor his inability to attend.

IV.-As soon as five members, exclusive of the Governor, shall be present after the hour appointed for the meeting of Council, the Governor shall take the chair, and will direct the clerk to read the minutes of the last meeting, which, having been approved, or corrected if necessary, shall be confirmed by the Governor.

V.-Should a quorum of members not be present at the expiration of fifteen minutes from the time for which the Council shall have been summoned on any particular day, the meeting shall stand adjourned to such time as shall be directed by the Governor. Notice of the said adjournment shall be sent by the Clerk to the Members.

VI.-Any member desiring the minutes to be corrected, shall propose such correction immediately after the minutes are read, and such correction shall be forthwith admitted or rejected by the Council.

19

VII. No question shall be asked in Council or proposed for debate without notice of at least three days to the Clerk of Councils. All such questions shall be entered in a book called "The Order Book (which shall be kept by the Clerk), in the order of priority of time at which the same shall have been transmitted. Measures proceeding originally from the Governor need not be inserted in the Order Book.

VIII. With the exception of questions of privilege, which shall take precedence of all others, all business shall be taken in the order in which it appears in the Order Book: unless, on motion made by permission of the Governor, and carried, preference be given to any particular subject.

order.

IX.-The Governor shall preserve order, and decide on all disputed points of

X.-Every motion or amendment, except for adjournment, must be in writing, and must be seconded before it can be put to the vote.

XI.-No member shall be allowed to read any speech, but may obtain permission to introduce documentary matter.