Directory_and_Chronicle_1933 — Page 278

STANDING RULES AND ORDERS

OF

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG

Made by the Legislative Council of Hongkong in pursuance of the provisions of Clause XXIII of the Instructions of His Majesty the King under His Sign Manual and Signet bearing date the 14th day of February, 1917.

1.-OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

(1) No member of the Council shall sit or yote therein until he shall have taken and subscribed the oath of allegiance, provided that any person authorised by law to make an affirmation instead of taking an oath shall be permitted to make a solemn affirmation in lieu of the oath of allegiance. i

(2) The oath or affirmation shall be administered by the Governor.

2-LANGUAGE

(1) The proceedings and debates of the Council shall be in the English language..

(2) A member may present a petition in Chinese, if the petition be accom- panied by an English translation certified to be correct by the member who presents it.

3. SITTINGS OF COUNCIL *

(1) The meetings of the Legislative Council shall be held on such day and at such hour as may from time to time be ordered by the Governor.

(2) At the beginning of each meeting, and before proceeding to the despatch of any other business, the President shall, if the minutes of the last preceeding meeting have been circulated to the members, propose that they be confirmed. If the said minutes have not been circulated they shall be read by the Clerk and the President shall then propose that they be confirmed. Upon any proposal that the minutes be confirme no debate shall be allowed except as to the accuracy of the minutes and with reference to an amendment actually proposed.

(3) The President may at any time adjourn or suspend any meeting.

4.-STANDING COMMITTEES

(1) There shall be the following standing committees of the Council:-

(a) The Finance Committee, which shall consist of the Colonial Secretary (Chairman), the Treasurer, the Director of Public Works and the unofficial members of the Council.

(b) The Public Works Committee, which shall consist of the Director of Public Works (Chairman), the Treasurer, and the unofficial members of the Council.

(c) The Law Committee, which shall consist of the Attorney General (Chairman), and four other members of the Council appointed at the first meeting of the year by the President, who shall have power to fill vacancies arising in the Committee during the course of the year...

On the subject of the quorum, and of who should preside, see respectively Clauses XIX

and XXI of the Royal Instructions of the 14th February, 1917.