TNAG-1441-FCO40-1925-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 106

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The next formal step is for the bill to receive its "Second Reading", at which stage the Council has the opportunity to debate the principles and objectives of the bill.

Ad Hoc Groups

Regular closed-door meetings of Unofficial Members, chaired by the Senior Member of the Legislative Council, are held each Friday afternoon to examine the new bills to be introduced, and to decide whether they need examination by special ad hoc groups, and to consider whether bills which have been introduced into the Council should be passed or amended. Either before or after the Second Reading the bill will again be dissected, scrutinised, and possibly subjected to numerous changes in such informal ad hoc group sessions.

Ad hoc groups take into account representations from the public and meet government officials concerned, if required. If necessary a bill may be deferred until all queries, including those related to drafting aspects, are resolved. If passage of the bill is agreed, members of the group may speak during the debate the resumption of the Second Reading and give their views on the proposals.

on

which

If there are provisions in the bills with which Members disagree, or on

Members wish to seek clarification, meetings are arranged with the These meetings frequently result in the redrafting of some clauses and subsequent committee stage amendments.

responsible Government

officials.

In addition to their work in looking at the detail of bills, ad hoc groups give a great deal of time to considering the principles behind legislative proposals. For example, a group is currently considering what new legislation might be appropriate to deal with the triad problem.

UMELCO Panels

In parallel with the Legislative Council system of ad hoc groups, the Office of Unofficial Members of Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) has established number of panels, both standing and ad hoc. Unofficial Members of both Councils may join these panels. The main aim is to consider policy rather than specific issues but they may well touch on legislative proposals when policy issues are at stake.