TNAG-1440-FCO40-1924-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 16

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not

He or

(c) Senior Unofficial Member: A leading Unofficial is

the Governor as Senior appointed by

Unofficial

Member of the Council. This appointment exists by

convention:

by specification in Standing than leads Orders.

she shepherds rather LegCo colleagues, and deals with the Governor and the Chief Secretary on public business generally as well as in the Legislative Council and UMELCO contexts. (UMELCO is a group established by long convention of Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils: see para 18 below)

(d) Legislation: Except for

non-policy

nature,

all

Official members,

Financial

Secretary,

rare Bills of a private,

Bills are presented by

ie the Chief Secretary,

Attorney

General

or

Secretaries in charge of major public Departments,

on

Bills are

a committee stage.

Administration. behalf of the subject to three readings and

The question is put at each stage and is decided Until now, voting has by a majority of votes.

been rare: Bills are amended by consensus before

at the committee stage, or

receive

the

rarely, withdrawn

Bills which have

the

of assent

or

for

the passed Governor and are then published as ordinances.

consideration. further

Council

(e) Questions: Questions

members

issues

are

to the

either seeking information

addressed by Unofficial Government, on a wide range of asking for The Official members answer on behalf of action.

the Administration.

or

(f) Other

normal

Business:

Other

business

includes items

motions

on

to most legislatures, eg

subsidiary legislation, statements and debates on policy (including Green Papers and White Papers).

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