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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

10. To summon, as required when exercising the above-mentioned powers and

functions, persons concerned to testify or give evidence.

Composition

Under the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR is constituted by election. The election of the second term of the Legislative Council was held on September 10, 2000.

The 60 members of the council's second term comprise 24 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections, 30 members returned by functional constituencies representing different sectors of the community, and six members returned by an Election Committee comprising 800 elected representatives of the community. The President of the Legislative Council is elected by and from among members of the council.

The second term of office of the Legislative Council began on October 1, 2000, and in accordance with the Basic Law and the Legislative Council Ordinance, the term of office is four years (2000-2004).

Meetings of the Legislative Council

The Legislative Council normally meets on Wednesday afternoons in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building to conduct business which includes the tabling of subsidiary legislation and other papers and reports for the council's consideration; asking of questions for replies by the Government; the introduction and consideration of bills and proposed resolutions; and debates on motions concerning matters of public interest.

All Legislative Council meetings are open to the public and are conducted in Cantonese or English with simultaneous interpretation provided. Putonghua may be used where requested by members, with simultaneous interpretation provided. The proceedings of the meetings are recorded verbatim in the Official Record of Proceedings of the Legislative Council.

During the 2002-03 legislative session (from October 2002 to September 2003), the Legislative Council held 36 meetings. Four of these were devoted to the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Sessions. The council passed a total of 34 bills and asked 615 questions and 1006 supplementary questions. Altogether, 250 items of subsidiary legislation were tabled in the council for consideration through the negative vetting procedure. Of the items tabled, 212 were not amended, 24 were amended and two were repealed. The scrutiny of the remaining 12 items continued in the next session. The Administration moved 22 motions relating to subsidiary legislation through the positive vetting procedure and two motions under Article 73(7) of the Basic Law to endorse the appointment of judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court. Members of the council moved two motions concerning the council's procedural matters, one motion to invoke the council's powers to order attendance of witnesses and production of documents under the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance and 55 motion debates on issues concerning public interests. One adjournment debate was moved by a member to allow members to express their opinions on an issue concerning public interests, with a view to eliciting a reply from the Administration.

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