Directory_and_Chronicle_1937 — Page 212

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RULES OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-HONG KONG

22.- RESPONSIBILITY FOR ORDER

The President in Council, and the Chairman in any committee, shall be respon- sible for the observance of the rules of order in the Council and committee respec- tively and their decision upon any point of order shall not be open to appeal and shall not be reviewed by the Council except upon a substantive motion made after notice.

23.-BREACHES OF ORDER

(1) If a Member show disregard for the authority of the chair, or abuse the rules of the Council by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business of the Council, or otherwise, the President shall direct the attention of the Council to the incident, mentioning by name the member concerned. A motion may then be made upon which the President shall forthwith put the question, no amendment, adjourn- ment, or debate being allowed, “That such member be suspended from the service of the Council". If such an offence shall have been committed in a committee of the whole Council, the Chairman shall forthwith suspend the proceedings of the committee and report the circumstances to the Council; and the President shall on a motion being made thereupon put the same question, without amendment, adjourn- ment or debate, as if the offence had been committed in the Council itself.

(2) Not more than one member shall be named at the same time, unless several members present together have jointly disregarded the authority of the chair.

(3) If a member be suspended under the provisions of this order his suspension shall last until determined by the Council.

(4) The President or Chairman, after having called the attention of the Council or committee to the conduct of a member who persists in irrelevance or tedious repetition either of his own arguments or of the arguments used by other members in debate, may direct the member to discontinue his speech.

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(5) The President or Chairman shall order members whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the Council Chamber during the remainder of the day's sitting.

(6) If a direction to withdraw under paragraph (5) of this order be not coms. plied with at once or if on any occasion the President or Chairman deem that hi- powers under that Paragraph are inadequate, he may name such member or mem- bers in pursuance of paragraph (1) of this order.

The President or Chairman whether acting under paragraph (1) or (5) of this order may direct such steps to be taken as are required to enforce his order.

(8) Members who are suspended under paragraph (1) of this order or are directed to withdraw under paragraplı (5), shall forthwith withdraw from the precincts of the Council Chamber.

(9) Nothing in this order shall be deemed to prevent the Council from proceed- ing against any member for any breach of order not specified herein or from pro- ceeding in any other way it thinks fit in dealing with the breaches of order herein mentioned.

24. VOTING *

(1) All questions shall be decided by a majority of votes, including the vote of the President, or in any committee the Chairman, and whenever the votes are equal the President, or in any committee the Chairman, shall have a casting vote.

(2) At the conclusion of a debate the question shall be put by the President, or in any committee by the Chairman, and the votes may be taken by voices aye and

* On the subject of decision by the majority, and on the Governor's original and casting wote, See Clause XXII of the Royal Instructions of the 14th February, 1917.