Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 446

-378

Order in which

amendments

tained.

RULES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG

28.-It any a nendinent be proposed and seconded, it shall be con should be enter. sidered before the original question. If an amendment of a proposed

amendment be moved and duly seconded, it shall be considered first.

29.-Any amend neut moved and seconded may be required by the be committed to President to be committed to writing by the Mover and delivered to the

Clerk.

Proposed

amendments to

writing.

Question to be

decided by majority.

Governor-to

have original

and casting vote.

Manner of vot-

ing.

Dissent.

No discussion after question put. Strangers.

President's authority.

Rules and Re- gulatious under which Ordin- ances are to be -enacted.

Form of enact- ing Ordinances.

Ordinances to be numbered and methodi- cally arranged.

Introductory speech.

First reading.

Only title to be read.

Publication

after first read- ing.

30.-All.questions proposed for debate in the Legislative Council shall be decided by the majority of votes, and the President shall have an original vote in common with the other Members of the Council, and also, if upon any question the votes shall be equal, a casting vote.

31.-On a division, the roll of Members present shall be read by the Clerk, who shall record the votes, beginning with the Junior Member. Each Member shall in his turn give his vote in the distinct terms “Aye” or “No.”

The Clerk hali then read out the result, mentioning the total number of votes for and against respectively.

32. Any Member who dissents from the opinion of the majority may, if he give notice forthwith of his intention to do so, lay upon the table a statement of the grounds of his dissent, either at the same meet- ing, or at the next ordinary meeting after the confirmation of the Minutes.

33. After a question has been put by the President no further discussion thereupon shall be allowed.

34.-Strangers may be present in the Council Chamber during debates; but shall withdraw when called upon to do so by the President on any Member taking notice of their presence. Any stranger expressing approbation or disapprobation shall be immediately removed under the supervision of the Clerk.

35. It shall be the duty of the President on his own authority to enforce all these Rules: and when the President addresses the Council, any Member speaking shall immediately resume his seat.

ORDINANCES

36.--In the making of Laws the Governor and the Council shall observe, as far as practicable, the following Rules:-

(1) All Laws shall be styled "Ordinances," and the enacting words shall be, "enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof."

(2) All Ordinances shall be distinguished by titles, and shall be divided into successive clauses or paragraphs, numbered consecutively, and to every such clause there shall be annexed in the margin a short summary of its contents. The Ordinances of each year shall be distinguished by consecutive numbers, commencing in each year with the number one.

37.-The Mover of a Bill, on moving the first reading thereof, shall state the object and intention of the measure and the reasons on which it is founded.

38.-After such motion has been seconded by another Member, the Bill shall be read a first time. The President may address the Council on the first reading of a Bill should he desire to do so, but no further discussion shall be permitted.

39.-On the first reading of a Bill, the Clerk shall read only the title of it.

40.-Except as provided for in Rule 48, every Bill shall be published in the Gazette for general information after having been read a first time.