TNAG-1365-FCO40-1811-Hong-Kong-Legislative-Council-(Powers-and-Privileges)-Bill-1-1985 — Page 78

12

CAP. 17]

Officers of the

Assembly to

have powers of police officer

Sanction of

Director of

Public

Prosecutions

for

prosecutions

Powers of the Assembly

National Assembly (Powers and Privileges)

(ƒ) creates or joins in any disturbance which interrupts or is likely to interrupt the proceedings of the Assembly while it is sitting; or

(g) publishes or prints any libels on any member concern- ing his character or conduct as a member and with regard to actions performed or words uttered by him in the course of the transaction of the business of the Assembly;

shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand kwacha or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a term not exceeding twelve months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

(As amended by No. 4 of 1957 and S.I. No. 174 of 1965)

26. Every officer of the Assembly shall, for the purposes of this Act and of the application of the provisions of the criminal law, have all the powers and enjoy all the privileges of a police officer.

27. No prosecution shall be instituted for an offence under this Act except by the Director of Public Prosecutions upon information given to him in writing by the Speaker.

(As amended by S.I. No. 174 of 1965)

28. (1) Where any member commits any contempt of the Assembly, whether specified in section nineteen or otherwise, the Assembly may, by resolution, either direct the Speaker to reprimand such member or suspend him from the service of the Assembly for such period as it may determine:

Provided that such period shall not extend beyond the last day of the meeting next following that in which the resolution is passed, or of the session in which the resolution is passed, whichever shall first occur.

(2) No salary or allowance payable to a member of the Assembly for his service as such shall be paid in respect of any period during which he is suspended from the service of the Assembly under the provisions of this section.

(3) If any person not being a member commits a contempt, whether specified in section nineteen or otherwise, the Assembly may, by resolution, direct that the Speaker shall order such person to appear before the Assembly and that he shall, upon such attendance, reprimand him at the Bar of the Assembly.

(As amended by No. 68 of 1957)