Directory_and_Chronicle_1879 — Page 654

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG.

XII.-Every member in discussing any question shall address the Governor; and should he wish to allude to the speech or opinion of any other member, should avoid employing his name. Official members may be designated by their appoint-

ments.

XIII.-If two or more members wish to speak at the same time, the Governor shall call on the one entitled in his opinion to pre-audience.

XIV.-On any question being put, every member present is required to give his vote in the distinct terms "Aye" or "No," beginning with the junior,-the Clerk minuting the vote of each member; after which he shall declare the number of votes for and against the question.

XV.-Any member may protest in writing against any decision of the Council, provided he give notice of his intention immediately after sucb decision, and that such written protest be delivered to the Clerk within seven days after such decision. It shall be competent to the Council to expunge any passage deemed offensive in such protest.

XVI.—The members of Council shall have freedom of speech, and shall not at any time be questioned 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 these present, shall preside and exercise all such powers as may be vested in the Governor by these Standing Orders.

CLERK OF COUNCIL.

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 bereafter 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 such 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 bave 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 he read ? "

PROGRESS OF BILLS.

XXIII.-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.