Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 747

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG.

XII- Every member in discussing any question shall address the Governor and should be 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 sp ak at the same time, the Governor shall call on the one entitled in his opinion to pre-audience,

or

XIV.-Ou any question being put, every member present is required to give is vote in the distinct terms "Aye "No," Leginning 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.—Auy member may protest in writing against any decision of the Council, provided he give notice of his intention immediately after such decision, and that such written protest be delivered to the clerk within seven day after such decision. It shall be competent to the Council to expunge any passage deemed offensive in such protest.

XVI-lhe members of Council shall have fr edom of sp ech, 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 those pres nt shall preside and ex reise all such powers as may be vested in the Governor by these Standing Orlers.

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 hereafter 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 pa; ers ready to be produced lefore 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 t'mes open to the in sp etion and perusal of any member.

PETITIONS.

XXL-Petitions may be pr sented to the Governor by any member, immediately after the minutes of the previous meeting have been confirmed; an every member presenting a petition s all satisfy Limsel tl at the petition is respectful and deserving of presentation.

XXII.--Any member may move that such petition Le read, but in so doing be s' all 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 be read?"

PROGRESS OF BILLS.

XXIII.—On moving the first reading of every Bill, the grounds and reasons upon which it is found d 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, in wiatly after, s me day way be appointed for the second reading,

Except in cases emer ency, seven days shall e'apse between the first and second reading

of a P-