TNAG-1781-FCO40-2541-Employment-in-Hong-Kong-various-ordinances-1988 — Page 250

A 192

Baha'i

membership.

Composition of the Assembly.

Officers of the Assembly.

Meetings and transaction of business by circulation of

papers.

Quorum.

Local spiritual assemblies.

Ord. No. 42/88 THE SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY OF THE BAHA'IS OF

HONG KONG INCORPORATION

3. The Baha'is of Hong Kong, for whose benefit this Trust is established, sham consist of all persons of the age of 15 years or over resident in Hong Kong who are accepted by the Assembly as possessing the qualifications of Baha'i faith and practice required under the following standard set forth by the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith-

"Full recognition of the station of the Bab, the Forerunner, Baha'u'llah, the Author and of 'Abdu'l-Baha, the True Exemplar of the Baha'i religion; unreserved acceptance of, and submission to, whatsoever has been revealed by their Pen; loyal and steadfast adherence to every clause of 'Abdu'l-Baha's sacred Will; and close association with the spirit as well as the form of Baha'i admin- istration throughout the world."

Those residing in the area of jurisdiction of any local spiritual assembly recognized by the Assembly may declare their faith to, and be enrolled by, the local spiritual assembly; those living outside any such area of local Baha'i jurisdiction shall be enrolled in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Assembly.

4. The Assembly shall consist of nine members chosen from among the voting members of the Baha'i community of Hong Kong, who shall be elected by the voting members in the manner hereinafter provided, and who shall hold office for the term of one year, or until their successors are elected.

5. The officers of the Assembly shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer and such other officers as may be found necessary for the proper conduct of its affairs. The officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Assembly taken by secret ballot.

6. The first meeting of a newly-elected Assembly shall be called by the member elected to membership by the highest number of votes or, in case two or more members have received the same highest number of votes, then by the member selected by lot from among of those members; and this member shall preside until the permanent Chairman shall be chosen. All subsequent meetings shall be called by the Secretary of the Assembly at the request of the Chairman or, in his absence or incapacity, of the Vice-Chairman, or of any three members of the Assembly; provided, however, that the Annual Meeting of the Assembly shall be held at a time and place to be fixed by a majority vote of the Assembly, as hereinafter provided. The Assembly may transact any of its business by circulation of papers amongst members (whether any such member is inside or outside Hong Kong), and a resolu- tion in writing which is approved in writing by not less than five members of the Assembly shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed by a meeting of the Assembly.

7. Five members of the Assembly present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum, and a majority vote of those present and constituting a quorum shall be sufficient for the conduct of business, except as otherwise provided in this constitu- tion, and with due regard to the principle of unity and cordial fellowship involved in the institution of a Baha'i spiritual assembly. The decisions and transactions of the Assembly shall be recorded at each meeting by the Secretary, who shall supply copies of the minutes to the Assembly members after each meeting, and preserve the minutes in the official records of the Assembly.

8. (1) Whenever in any authorized area, the number of voting members exceeds nine, they shall on 21st April of any year convene and elect by plurality vote a local administrative body of nine members, to be known as the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of that community. Every such local spiritual assembly shall be elected annually thereafter upon each successive 21st April. The members shall hold office for the term of one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. When, however, the number of Baha'is in any such authorized area is exactly nine, they shall on April 21st of any year, or in successive years, constitute themselves the local spiritual assembly by joint declaration. Upon the recognition of such declaration by the Secretary of the Assembly, the said body of nine shall become established with the rights, privileges and duties of a local spiritual assembly.