Directory_and_Chronicle_1932 — Page 262

214

Resignation of Members.

Council may transact business

vacancies. Quorum.

ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS-HONGKONG

XVIII.-Any Unofficial Member may resign his seat at the Council by writing under his hand, but no such resignation shall take effect until it be accepted in writing by the Governor, or by Us through one of Our Principal Secretaries of State.

XIX.-The Legislative Council shall not be disqualified from the notwithstanding transaction of business on account of any vacancies among the Members thereof; but the said Council shall not be competent to act in any case unless (including the Governor or the Member presiding) there be present at and throughout the meetings of the Council five Members at the least. XX.-The Members of the Legislative Council shall take precedence as We may specially assign, and in default thereof, as follows:-

First, the Official Members in the following order:—

Precedence of Members.

Who to preside.

Questions to be decided by a

majority.

(1)

(a)

The ex Officio Members in the order in which their offices are mentioned (except that the Senior Military Officer, if below the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in Our Army, shall take precedence after the person lawfully discharging the functions of Attorney-General).

(b) Other Official Members according to the priority of their respective appointments, or if appointed by or in pur- suance of the same Instrument, according to the order in which they are named therein.

(2) Secondly, the Unofficial Members in the following order :-

(a) The Unofficial Members who are also Members of the Exccutive Council of the Colony according to the pre- cedence taken as between themselves as Members of the Executive Council.

(b) Other Unofficial Members according to the priority of their respective appointments, or if appointed by or in pur- suance of the same Instrument, according to the order in which they are named therein: Provided that any such Unofficial Member who is re-appointed immediately on the termination of his term of office shall as between himself and other Unofficial Members who are not also Members of the Executive Council take precedence according to the date from which he has been con- tinously a Member of the Legislative Council.

[As amended by Additional Instructions of 20-11-29.]

XXI.-The Governor shall attend and preside in the Legislative Council, unless prevented by illness or other grave cause; and in his absence any Member appointed by him in writing shall preside, or, in default of such Member, the Member who is first iu precedence of those present shall preside.

XXII. All questions proposed for debate in the Legislative Council shall be decided by the majority of votes, and the Governor or the Member presiding shall have an original vote in common with the other Members and casting vote, of the Council, and also a casting vote, if upon any question the votes

shall be equal.

Governor

to have original

Rules and order to be made.

XXIII.-The Legislative Council may from time to time make stand- ing rules and orders for the regulation of their own proceedings; provided 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.