TNAG-1360-FCO40-1806-Procedural-changes-in-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 16

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STANDING ORDERS

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Under Royal Instruction

XXIII, the Legislative Council may from time to time make Standing Orders for the regulation of their own proceedings. Amendments to such Standing Orders are made by resolution of the Council, normally moved by the Chief Secretary.

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Standing Orders are issued and updated by the Councils and Administration Branch after they have been made or amended by the Legislative Council.

BILLS

Introduction

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This section describes the procedure for processing a bill from the time

time it is approved by the Executive Council, through the various stages in the Legislative Council, to the time it receives the assent of the Governor and is gazetted as an ordinance. In planning the passage of a new ordinance into law, an adequate period of time should be allowed for preparation of the Executive Council memorandum (details on this are in General Circular No. 40/84). Between six

six and ten weeks are required for the passage of a bill through the Executive and Legislative Councils, and this period may have to be extended if amendments are required in the Legislative Council.

Preparations for publicity

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The Principal Assistant Secretary responsible for the Executive Council memorandum should make preparations for publicity for the bill on the day it is gazetted. The Director of Information Services should be consulted. If the department concerned has an Information Unit, the press release will be prepared by

by them. If not, the Information Services Department will draft a press release. The press release will be cleared with the Attorney General's Chambers before it is issued to the

press.

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On being notified of the Executive Council decision the Principal Assistant Secretary concerned should finalize the publicity arrangements, and take note of any changes in

in the bill which the Council may have