ENG-2012 — Page 27

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Constitution and Administration

out the investigation and reporting its findings to the Legislative Council. If the committee considers the evidence sufficient to substantiate such charges, the Legislative Council may pass a motion of impeachment by a two-thirds majority of all its members and report it to the Central People's Government for decision; and

• 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 specific method of forming the Legislative Council is prescribed in Annex II of the Basic Law. The composition of the Legislative Council in the fourth term (from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2012) was 60 members, comprising 30 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 30 members returned by functional constituencies representing various sectors of the community. The composition of the Legislative Council in the fifth term (from 1 October 2012 to 30 September 2016) has been increased to 70 members, comprising 35 members returned by geographical constituencies through direct elections and 35 members returned by functional constituencies representing various sectors of the community. The election for the Fifth Legislative Council was held on 9 September 2012. The President of the Legislative Council is elected by and from among members of the Legislative Council.

Meetings of the Legislative Council

The Legislative Council normally meets on Wednesdays. The business of the Legislative Council at its regular meetings includes introducing and considering bills and proposed resolutions; the tabling of subsidiary legislation, papers and reports for the council's consideration; asking of questions for replies from the Government; and debating motions concerning matters of public interest. All meetings of the council are open to the public. Members may address the council in Cantonese, English or Putonghua, with simultaneous interpretation provided. The proceedings are recorded verbatim in the Official Record of Proceedings of the Legislative Council.

During the 2011-2012 legislative session (from October 2011 to July 2012), the Legislative Council held 38 meetings, five of which were the Chief Executive's Question and Answer Sessions. During the 2011-2012 session, members asked 181 oral questions on the work of the Government with 841 supplementary questions, and another 479 written questions. The council also passed 33 bills. All 19 motions moved by the Government under the positive vetting procedure to seek the council's approval to either make or amend subsidiary legislation were passed. On subsidiary legislation subject to the negative vetting procedure, the council completed the scrutiny of 10 items which had been tabled in council in the 2010-2011 session, with one of them amended by resolution of the council. Of the 131 items tabled in the 2011- 2012 session, the council completed the scrutiny of 126 items, with two of them amended by resolutions of the council. The scrutiny of the remaining five items continued into the 2012- 2013 session.

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