TNAG-0933-FCO40-1152-Relations-between-Hong-Kong-and-Macau-1980 — Page 32

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2.

Vacancies occurring during the above three-year period will be filled in by appointment or by an additional election, depending on the kind of vacancy, within sixty days of its occurrence, except if expiry of the mandate should occur within such a period.

3. Should the case provided for in the previous paragraph occur, the new Deputies will exercise their functions until the end of the three-year period in question.

Article 23

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1.

It is the duty of the District Court to check the

results of the elections and announce the elected members, a list of

which will be published in the Official Gazette.

2.

The Court's decision will be published until eight days before

the opening of the legislative session or, in the case of additional elections, within the fortnight following such elections.

Article 24 After the last legislative session of the three-year period, the Legislative Assembly will be maintained with all its members until

verification of the powers of the new members.

Article 25 1. The President of the Republic may arder the Legislative Assembly to be dissolved, on a proposal of the Governor, based on reasons of public interest, in which case new élections will be held.

2. The aforesaid proposal must contain a detailed account of the reasons justifying the dissolution, and notification thereof will be provided to the Legislative Assembly.

Article 26

1.

Deputies to the Assembly enjoy immunity for the opinions and votes expressed in the course of their mandate.

2. The above immunity will not exempt the Deputies from civil or

criminal liability arising from defamation, slander or insults, -offences against public morals or public incitement to crime, in which

case the Assembly itself can suspend the deputy in question.

3.

During the period of the sessions, Deputies to the Assembly cannot

be detained or kept under arrest without the ASSEMBLY's consent, except in the case of crimes subject to "pena maior"* or a similar sentence in

"pena maior"

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sentence exceeding two years imprisonment