Here are some frequently asked questions about the Legislative Council.
History of the Legislature
- When was the Legislature first established in Hong Kong?
1843 - When was the earliest meeting of the Legislature?
1844 - When was the first Hong Kong Ordinance passed?
1844 - Who was the first President of the Legislature in the history of Hong Kong?
Governor Henry POTTINGER - Who was the first Chinese Unofficial Member of the Legislature?
NG Choy (also known as WU Ting-fang) - Since which year have there been Members of the Legislature returned by direct elections?
1991 - Which law stipulates that the Legislative Council shall be the Legislature of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region?
The Basic Law
Composition of the Legislative Council
- In which year does the term of office for Members of the Seventh Legislative Council begin?
2022 - How many Members are there in the Seventh Legislative Council?
90 - What is the composition of the Seventh Legislative Council?
Members are returned by the Election Committee (40), functional constituencies (30) and geographical constituencies (20) - How many members are there in the Election Committee?
The Election Committee is composed of 1 500 members - How many constituencies are there in the functional constituency elections?
28 functional constituencies - How many constituencies are there in the direct elections of geographical constituencies?
Ten (namely Hong Kong Island East, Hong Kong Island West, Kowloon East, Kowloon West, Kowloon Central, New Territories South East, New Territories North, New Territories North West, New Territories South West, New Territories North East) - How is the President of the Legislative Council elected?
By and from among Members of the Legislative Council - Must Legislative Council membership be taken up on a full-time basis?
No
Powers, functions and duties of the Legislative Council
- Which Article of the Basic Law stipulates the powers and functions of the Legislative Council?
Article 73 - Which two of the stated powers and functions are newly vested with the Legislative Council after Hong Kong's return to China?
Endorsement of the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court; and to report a motion of impeachment passed against the Chief Executive to the Central People's Government - What are the three major powers and functions of the Legislative Council?
Enactment of laws; examination and approval of public expenditure; and monitoring the work of the Government - What is the established system under which the Legislative Council performs some of its duties, where Members work on specific tasks, often in smaller groups?
Committee system - Who may introduce a bill into the Legislative Council?
Public officers or Legislative Council Members - What committees are responsible for considering the principles, merits and detailed provisions of bills?
Bills Committees - What procedure must a bill go through in the Legislative Council before it can become a law?
The three-reading procedure - How many votes of the Members present are required for the passage of motions moved by the Government?
A majority vote of the Members present - How many votes of the Members present are required for the passage of motions moved by Legislative Council Members?
A majority vote of each of the two groups of Members present, i.e. Members returned by the Election Committee, and those returned by functional constituencies and by geographical constituencies through direct elections - Which Article of the Basic Law stipulates that laws enacted by the Legislative Council must be reported to the Standing Commitee of the National People's Congress for the record?
Article 17 - What is the system through which Legislative Council Members receive and handle complaints from members of the public who are aggrieved by government actions or policies?
The Legislative Council Redress System
Meetings of the Council and its committees
- On which day of the week does the Council normally meet?
Wednesday - What business do Legislative Council Members conduct during Council meetings?
Tabling of subsidiary legislation, other papers and reports; raising questions for which replies from the Government are required; scrutiny of bills; and motion debates - What is the quorum of a Council meeting?
Not less than one half of all Members, i.e. 45 Members - What does the Chief Executive present at the Legislative Council every year?
The Policy Address - In addition to the above, does the Chief Executive attend other Council meetings?
Yes, from time to time the Chief Executive attends Council meetings to address the Council, answer questions from Members and brief Members on policy issues - What does the Financial Secretary present at the Council in February every year?
The Budget - Which are the three standing committees under the Legislative Council?
Finance Committee, Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Members' Interests - How many panels are there under the Legislative Council?
18, namely Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, Panel on Commerce, Industry, Innovation and Technology, Panel on Constitutional Affairs, Panel on Development, Panel on Economic Development, Panel on Education, Panel on Environmental Affairs, Panel on Financial Affairs, Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene, Panel on Health Services, Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, Panel on Housing, Panel on Information Technology and Broadcasting, Panel on Manpower, Panel on Public Service, Panel on Security, Panel on Transport and Panel on Welfare Services - Can members of the public observe the proceedings of open meetings of the Council and its committees?
Yes - Where are members of the press and the public seated when they observe an open meeting of the Council?
Public / Press Gallery - If I cannot observe an open meeting of the Council in person, are there other channels that can keep me informed on the proceedings of the meeting?
Yes, you can visit the “Legislative Council Webcast” on the Legislative Council Website to view or listen to live and archived meeting webcast
The Legislative Council Complex
- Where is the Legislative Council Complex located?
The Legislative Council Complex is located at 1 Legislative Council Road, Central, Hong Kong - What is the name of the road where the Legislative Council Complex is located?
Legislative Council Road - In which year did the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approve the budget for constructing the Legislative Council Complex?
2006 - When was the Legislative Council Complex commissioned to house the Legislature of Hong Kong?
2011 - Is there any education service provided in the Legislative Council Complex?
Yes. You may visit our education facilities and participate in our visit and educational activities