TNAG-1353-FCO40-1794-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 102

CONFIDENTIAL

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND..THE FIRST SITTING OF THE NEXT SESSION SHALL NOT EXCEED THREE MONTHS: AND ADDITIONAL SITTINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MAY BE HELD IN ANY PERIOD BETWEEN THE END OF ONE SESSION OF THE COUNCIL AND THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT SESSION.

(3) THE CONSIDERATION OF ANY BILL OR OTHER BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE TERMINATION OF A SESSION (OR THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL), BUT IT MAY BE RESUMED AT ANY SUBSEQUENT

SITTING OF THE COUNCIL.

DISSOLUTION OF COUNCIL AND ELECTIONS

XXIB.(I) THE GOVERNOR MAY AT ANY TIME, BY PROCLAMATION PUBLISHED IN THE HONG KONG GAZETTE DISSOLVE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:

PROVIDED THAT UNLESS IT HAS BEEN SOONER DISSOLVED, HE SHALL IN ANY CASE DISSOLVE THE COUNCIL ON THE EXPIRATION OF THREE YEARS FROM THE FIRST SITTING OF THE COUNCIL NEXT FOLLOWING AN ELECTION FOR ALL THE

ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

(2) ON THE DISSOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL, ALL THE ELECTED MEMBERS SHALL VACATE THEIR SEATS: PROVIDED THAT IF, FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF ANY URGENT BUSINESS, THE GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT A TIME FOR A SITTING OF THE COUNCIL AFTER THE DISSOLUTION BUT BEFORE THE DAY APPOINTED FOR THE HOLDING OF AN ELECTION FOR ALL THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS CLAUSE), THE PERSONS HOLDING OFFICE AS ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SUCH DISSOLUTION SHALL CONTINUE TO SIT AS ELECTED MEMBERS UNTIL THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE DAY (OR, IF MORE THAN ONE, THE FIRST DAY) APPOINTED FOR THE HOLDING OF SUCH ELECTIONS.

(3) AN ELECTION FOR ALL ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LAW IN THAT BEHALF IN FORCE IN THE COLONY SHALL

BE HELD:

(A) IN 1985: AND

(B) WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER ANY SUBSEQUENT DISSOLUTION OF THE

COUNCIL.

(4) ELECTIONS FOR CASUAL VACANCIES AMONG THE ELECTED MEMBERS SHALL BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LAW IN THAT BEHALF IN FORCE IN THE

COLONY'.

ENDS

4. WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR LAW OFFICERS HAVE DISCUSSED THESE CHANGES

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CONFIDENTIAL