Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 442

890

Second reading.

Publication.

Procedure

in Committe..

Filling blanks.

Bill reported on by Standing Committee.

Bill may be re- committed.

Third reading,

Suspension of Stauding Orders.

RULES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONGKONG

41.- When a motion for a second reading of a Bill shall have been made and seconded, a debate may be taken only upon the general merits and principles of the Bill, and if such second reading be assented to, the Council may either refer the Bill to a Standing or Special Committee or may, either forthwith or at a subsequent meeting, resolve itself into a Committee of the whole Council.

42.-Except as provided for in Rule 48, no Bill shall be read a second time before it shall have been published at least once in the Gazette, and, subject to the said exception, no Bill which shall have been materially amended in Committee shall be read a third time until it has been published as so amended in the Gazette.

43. When the Council shall, by motion made and seconded, have resolved itself into a Committee of the whole Council for the considera- tion of a Bill, the Clerk shall read the Bill clause by clause unless the. President with the consent of the Committee shall bave directed him to read the marginal headings only. And the Committee shall agree to or alter each clause separately as they may think fit. Provided that any clause may be left over for discussion and decision at a subsequent meet- ing of the Council in Committee, and that whether the whole Bill or any clause thereof be left in Committee the Council may on motion made and adopted resume and proceed with the remaining business of the day.

44.-In filling up blanks in Bills, and in putting questions of amendment respecting amounts of money or periods of time, the question of the lowest amount of money or shortest period of time proposed shall be first put.

45.—If a Committee to which any Bill has been referred shall recommend any material amendment therein, the Bill may be printed. with such amendments and, after publication in the Gazette, may with

per- mission of the Council be substituted for the Bill as read a second time. Every such Bill shall be considered in Committee of the whole Council.

46.-When a Bill has been reported to the Council as having passed through Committee, or if, on the third reading, any Member desire to omit or amend any provision contained in the Bill, or to introduce any fresh provision thereinto, it may on motion to that effect being made and carried be re-committed, provided that it has not been read a third time, and thereupon the Council shall again resolve itself into Committee for the discussion of any specified amendment to any clause. If a Bill has passed through Committee with the exception of any specially reserved clause it shall not be possible for any Member to move an amendment to any clause already assented to and passed, unless a motion shall have been previously made and carried that the clause or the whole Bill be re-committed.

47.-If no material alteration be made in any Bill in Committee of the whole Council, it may be read a third time, and passed, at the same meeting, if no Member object; but, except as provided for in Rule 48, if any material alteration be made, or any Member object to proceed immediately with the third reading, it shall be postponed till the next ensuing meeting.

48. In cases where no amendments whatever, or only amendments of an unimportant nature have been made to a Bill, or in cases of emergency, if the Governor declares that such emergency exists, and the grounds therefor, and that in his opinion it is necessary or desirable in the public interest that any of the Standing Rules relative to the ordinary procedure in respect to Bills be suspended, it may be moved that the said Rules be suspended, and if the motion be adopted by a majority of the