Directory_and_Chronicle_1931 — Page 367

ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS-HONGKONG

majority.

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XXII.-All questions proposed for debate in the Legislative Council Questions to be shall be decided by the majority of votes, and the Governor or the Member decided by a presiding shall have an original vote in common with the other Members Governor

to have original of the Council, and also a casting vote, if upon any question the votes and casting vote. shall be equal.

XXIII.-The Legislative Council may from time to time make stand- Rules and order ing rules and orders for the regulation of their own proceedings; provided to be made. such rules and orders be not repugnant to Our said recited Letters Patent,

or to these Our Instructions, or to any other Instructions from Us under Our Sign Manual and Signet.

XXIV.—It shall be competent for any Member of the Legislative Question, &c. Council to propose any question for debate therein; and such question, if for debate. seconded by any other Member, shall be debated and disposed of according to the standing rules and orders. Provided always that every ordinance vote, resolution, or question, the object or effect of which may be to dispose of or charge any part of Our revenue arising within the Colony, shall be proposed by the Governor, unless the proposal of the same shall have been expressly allowed or directed by him.

XXV.-In the passing of Ordinances the Governor and the Council Rules and regula shall observe, as far as practicable, the following Rules:-

tions under which Ordinances ·

1.-All laws shall be styled "Ordinances," and the enacting words are to be enacted. shall be,

"enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and Form of enacting consent "of the Legislative Council thereof."

""

Ordinances.

methodically

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

Except in the case of Bills reserved for the signification of Our plea- sure, all Ordinances passed by the Legislative Council in any one year shall, if assented to by the Governor, be assented to by him in that year, shall be dated as of the day on which the assent of the Governor is given, and shall be numbered as of the year in which they are passed. Bills not so assented to by the Governor, but reserved by him for the signification of Our pleasure, shall be dated as of the day and numbered as of the year on and in which they are brought into operation.

3. Each different matter shall be provided for by a different Different subjects Ordinance, without intermixing in one and the same Ordinance such things not to be mixed: as have no proper relation to each other; and no clause is to be inserted ance. No clause in or annexed to any Ordinance which shall be foreign to what the title of foreign to what such Ordinance imports, and no perpetual clause shall be part of any imports. Tempor temporary Ordinance.

XXVI. The Governor shall not, except in the cases hereunder men- tioned, assent in Our name to any Bill of any of the following classes :-

1.-Any Bill for the divorce of persons joined together in holy matri-

mony:

2.-Any Bill whereby any grant of land or money, or other donation or gratuity, may be made to himself:

3.-Any Bill affecting the Currency of the Colony or relating to the issue of Bank notes:

4.-Any Bill establishing any Banking Association, or amending or altering the constitution, powers, or privileges of any Banking Association:

5.-Any Bill imposing differential duties :

to be introduced:

title of Ordinance

ary Ordinances.

Description of

Bills not to be assented to.