TNAG-1360-FCO40-1806-Procedural-changes-in-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 28

-

15

the

The

the

the

subject at a sitting for not more than 20 minutes; Official Member has the remaining time to reply. President may, however, at his discretion, waive 30-minute rule and determine any longer period for debate (or simply say that the debate shall continue until all Members who wish to do so have spoken). The President is required to take this decision before the debate begins.

<

47

After the sitting, the Clerk to the Legislative Council will forward a loose minute, with copies of all the speeches, to the appropriate Secretary, with the standard minute set out in Appendix II.

QUESTIONS

Procedure

48

Legislative

Members asking questions in the Council in accordance with Standing Order 15(2) can specify whether they require an oral or written answer. The following is the practice when oral answers are required, although the same basic procedure applies to written answers as well. Written answers are not read out in the Legislative Council sitting and no supplementary questions can be raised; they are, however, incorporated in Hansard.

Unofficial

49

The notice of a question from an Member must be delivered to the Clerk to the Legislative Council four clear working days prior to any Legislative Council sitting. After checking that the question conforms with the requirements set in Standing Orders 15 and 18, the Clerk then immediately seeks the instructions of the Chief Secretary before distribution. If the Chief Secretary is not immediately available, a copy on a loose minute recommending acceptance of the question or otherwise, and specifying the Official Member responsible for replying, is forwarded

is forwarded to the Chief

the Chief Secretary and a provisional copy of the question is sent

the question is sent to the Official Member likely to be called

called on to reply. When a question overlaps the areas of responsibility of two Official Members, they should consult and agree on who should answer on behalf of both. The other can be called upon to answer a supplementary question.

50

After

receiving

the

instructions, which indicate who

Chief

Secretary's

is is to reply, the Clerk