Directory_and_Chronicle_1940 — Page 192

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Resignation of Members.

transact business

Quorum.

ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS-HONGKONG

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

Council may

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

Precedence of Members.

Who to preside.

Questions to be decided by a

majority.

Governor

(1) First, the Official Members in the following order:-

(a)

(b)

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

Other Official Members according to the priority of the

respective appointments, or if appointed by or in pur suance of the same Instrument, according to the orde in which they are named therein.

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

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

(b)

Other Unofficial Members according to the priority of thei 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 suc Unofficial Member who is re-appointed immediately of the termination of his term of office shall as betwee himself and other Unofficial Members who are not als Members of the Executive Council take precedenc according to the date from which he has been con tinously a Member of the Legislative Council.

1

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

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

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

shall be equal.

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.