TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 28

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(B) UNDERLINE NEXT WORD PRESIDENT THE GOVERNOR PRESIDES AT

ALL SITTINGS OF COUNCIL WHEN HE S IN HONG KONG, AND RS CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL. PN HIS ABSENCE, A MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR (IN PRACTICE THE CHIEF SECRETARY) PRESIDES.

(C) UNDERLINE NEXT THREE WORDS SENIOR UNOFFICIÞAL MEMBER

A LEADING UNOFFICIAL HIS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AS SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL. THIS APPOINTMENT EXISTS BY CONVENTION: NOT BY SPECIFICATION IN STANDING ORDERS. HE OR SHE SHEPHERDS RATHER THAN LEADS LEGCO COLLEAGUES, AND DEALS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON PUBLIC BUSINESS GENERALLY AS WELL AS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIN AND UMELCO CONTEXTS. (UMELCO IS A GROUP ESTABLISHED BY LONG CONVENTION OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: SEE PARA. 19 BELOW).

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(D). UNDERLINE NEXT WORD LEGISLATION EXCEPT FOR RARE BILLS OF A PRIVATE, NON-POLICY NATURE, ALL BILLS ARE PRESENTED BY OFFICIAL MEMBERS, .E. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ATTORNEY GENERAL OR SECRETARIES IN CHARGE OF MAJOR PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS, ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION. BILLS ARE SUBJECT TO THREE READINGS AND A COMMITTEE STAGE. THE QUESTION HIS PUT AT EACH STAGE AND IS DECIDED BY A MAJORITY OF VOTES. UNTIL NOW, VOTING HAS BEEN RARE: BILLS ARE AMENDED BY CONSENSUS BEFORE OR AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE, OR RARELY, WITHDRAWN FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION. BILLS WHICH HAVE PASSED THE COUNCIL RECEIVE THE ASSENT OF THE GOVERNOR AND ARE THEN PUBLISHED AS ORDINANCES.

(E) UNDERLINE NEXT WORD QUESTIONS QUESTIONS ARE ADDRESSED BY

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE GOVERNMENT, ON A WIDE RANGE OF ENTHER SEEKING INFORMATION OR ASKING FOR ACTION. THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS ANSWER ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

(F) UNDERLINE NEXT TWO WORDS OTHER BUSINESS OTHER BUSINESS

#NCLUDES ITEMS NORMAL TO MOST LEGISLATURES, E.G. MOTIONS OM SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, STATEMENTS AND DEBATES ON POLICY (INCLUDING GREEN PAPERS AND WHITE PAPERS). DEBATES TAKE PLACE ON A MOTION (IN EFFECT A STATEMENT OF WIEW OR CALL FOR ACTION BY THE COUNCIL), OR ON THE ADJOURNMENT (UN EFFECT A GENERAL STATEMENT OF VIEWS BY ANDIVIDUAL MEMBERS). A COMPLETE RECORD OF ALL PAPERS LAND BEFORE THE COUNCIL TOGETHER WITH A VERBATIM RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS (HANSARD) IS

MAINTAINED.

(G) UNDERLINE NEXT TWO WORDS

STANDING COMMITTEES TWO STANDING

COMMITTEES DEAL WITH PUBLIC EXPENDITURE:

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