Directory_and_Chronicle_1919 — Page 426

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Adjournments.

Nomination of Standing Com. mittees.

Filling vacan- zies.

Committees to be open.

Nomination of Special Com- mittees.

Quorum, Attendance on Committees.

Report by whom to be signed.

Order of busi.

nega.

RULES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG

10.-At any time during a meeting, the Council may, on motion to that effect being carried, adjourn to any other hour or day; and, should the adjournment be to another day, notice of the day to which Council is adjourned shall be given to the Members by the Clerk.

COMMITTEES

11.-At the first Meeting of the Council in each year, the President may appoint the following Standing Committees :--

(a) FINANCE COMMITTEE-Consisting of the Colonial Secretary (Chairman), and the other Members of Council except the Governor or Officer Administering the Government.

(b) A LAW COMMITTEE-consisting of the Attorney-General

(Chairman), and four other Members.

(c) A PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE consisting of the Director of Public Works (Chairman), and four other Members. 12.-If any Member of either the Law Committee or the Public Works Committee shall die, or become incapable of acting, or be absent from the Colony, or resign by writing under his hand, or if from any cause his seat on either of such Committees becomes vacant, the Presi- dent may, at any meeting of the Council, appoint another Member of Council, in his place, to be a Member of such Committee.

13.-All Members may attend the meetings of the Standing Com- mittees of Council, but shall not join in the discussion or vote.

14.-Every Special Committee shall consist of at least three Members who shall be nominated by the President: Provided that any Member may move that the name of another Member be substituted for any Member so nominated, and if the motion be duly seconded the amendments shall, after debate, be put to the vote in accordance with Rules 30 and 31.

15.-No Special or Standing Committee shall be competent to act unless at least three of its Members be present. The Clerk shall attend upon any Special or Standing Committee if required by the Chairman thereof to do so.

16. The report of every Committee shall be signed by the Chairman, or, in his absence, by the Senior Member present. If there be any Minority Report it shall be attached, duly signed, to the report of the Committee.

BUSINESS

17. When the Minutes of the last Meeting have been confirmed in accordance with Rule 8, the following shall be the Order of business :-

(a) Messages or Minutes of the Governor; which may, however,

be read at any time during a Meeting.

(b) Reports from Committees. The report shall be laid on the table by the Chairman of the Committee or in his absence by the senior Member of the Committee present. Provided that in the case of a Bill referred to a Standing or Special Committee the report may be laid when the Bill is under consideration by the Council, and in accor- dance with the procedure laid down in Rule 45. (c) Petitions in accordance with the procedure detailed in Rule

51.

(d) Notices of Motions which any Member may desire to bring forward on a day or at a Meeting to be specified: Provided that if notice be not so given at a Meeting it must be sent in writing to the Clerk at least three clear days before the Meeting at which it is intended to be brought forward.