Rules of Procedure

Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
(Amended as at 29 June 2023)

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PART A

MEMBERS AND OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL

1.

Oath or Affirmation
1A.

Precedence of Members
1B.

The President of the Legislative Council
2.

Language
3.

Presiding in Council and in Committee of the Whole Council
4.

Election of President
5.

President’s Deputy
6.

Duties of the Clerk
7.

Counsel to the Legislature
8.

Attendance of the Chief Executive
9.

Attendance of Public Officers
10.

Participation of Public Officers in Proceedings

PART B

SESSIONS, MEETINGS AND ADJOURNMENTS OF THE COUNCIL

11.

Ordinary Sessions
12.

First Meeting of Term
13.

The Chief Executive’s Policy Address
14.

Days and Hours of Meetings
15.

Meetings for Urgent Business
16.

Motions for the Adjournment of the Council
17.

Quorum

PART C

ARRANGEMENT OF BUSINESS

18.

Order of Business at a Meeting
19.

The Agenda of the Council

PART D

PETITIONS AND PAPERS

20.

Presentation of Petitions
21.

Presentation of Papers

PART E

QUESTIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT

PART F

STATEMENTS AND PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS

28.

Statements by Designated Public Officers
28A.

Personal Explanations

PART G

29.

Notice of Motions and Amendments
30.

Manner of Giving Notice of Motions and Amendments
31.

Restriction on Motions and Amendments
32.

Motions on Previous Decisions of Council
33.

Manner of Debating Motions
34.

Manner of Debating Amendments to Motions
35.

Withdrawal of Motions and Amendments

PART H

RULES OF SPEAKING

PART I

PART J

46.

Decision on Motions
47.

Decision of Council and Committee of the Whole Council
48.

Use of Electronic Voting System
49.

Divisions

PART JA

PROCEDURES FOR PARTICULAR MOTIONS

49A.

Application of this Part
49B.

Disqualification of Member from Office

PART JB

REPORTS OF HOUSE COMMITTEE ON SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED MOTIONS

PART K

PROCEDURE ON BILLS

50.

Form of Bills
51.

Notice of Presentation of Bills
52.

Presentation and Publication of Bills
53.

First Reading of Bills
54.

Second Reading
55.

Committal of Bills
56.

Functions of Committees on Bills
57.

Amendments to Bills
58.

Procedure in Committee of the Whole Council on a Bill
59.

Procedure on Reporting of Bill from Committee of the Whole Council
60.

Procedure in Select Committee on a Bill
61.

Procedure on Reporting of Bill from a Select Committee
62.

Procedure on Recommittal of Bill Reported from Select Committee
63.

Third Reading
64.

Withdrawal or Postponement of Bills
65.

Presentation of Bill for Signature of Chief Executive
66.

Bills Returned for Reconsideration

PART L

FINANCIAL PROCEDURE

PART M

71.

Finance Committee
72.

Public Accounts Committee
73.

Committee on Members’ Interests
73A.

Investigation Committee
74.

Committee on Rules of Procedure
74A.

Committee on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records
75.

House Committee
76.

Bills Committees
77.

Panels
78.

Select Committees
79.

Procedure of Select Committees
79A.

Exercise of Voting Rights of Chairmen of Committees
79B.

Determining the Time and the Place of a Meeting of a Committee by the Deputy Chairman of the Committee
79C.

Determining the Agenda of a Meeting of a Committee by Chairmen of Committees
79D.

Powers of Chairman and Deputy Chairman of a Committee in Office
80.

Attendance of Witness
81.

Premature Publication of Evidence

PART N

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

Schedule 1 Procedure for the Election of the President of the Legislative Council

Schedule 2 Policy on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records

Schedule 3 Procedure for Conducting Remote Meetings of the Council and a Committee

Table showing dates at which Rules of Procedure were made and amended