Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - A Companion to the history, rules and practices of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Chapter 14: Conduct of Inquiries
Introductory
Purposes of an inquiry
Historical background on the conduct of inquiries
Nature of inquiries
Before July 1997
After the establishment of the HKSAR
Preparatory work
Process in conducting an inquiry
Duration of inquiry
Chairmanship
Practice and Procedure
Work plan
Invitation for information and views from the public
Scheduling of meetings
Quorum
Voting
Participation of other Members
Disclosure of interests
Conduct of meetings
Public and closed hearings
The issue of a summons
Examination of witnesses
Internal deliberations
Handling of documents
Minutes of proceedings
Report on the inquiry
Premature publication of evidence
Safeguarding the rights of witnesses
Rights and privileges of a witness under the Powers and Privileges Ordinance
Actions taken to protect the rights of witnesses in the course of an inquiry
Practice of ordering attendance by summons
Measures taken to avoid possible prejudice to a person's interest in pending legal proceedings

List of Appendices

14-A: Rule 79 of the Rules of Procedure - Procedure of Select Committees
14-B: Resolution under Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinances passed on 25 May 1994 and amended on 20 November 1996 and further amended on 16 April 1997
14-C: Practice and Procedure of the Select Committee to Inquire into Matters relating to the Post-service Work of Mr LEUNG Chin-man
14-D: Revised work plan and time frame of the Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing
14-E: A sample of summons
14-F: Allowance for witnesses attending before a committee to give evidence or to produce any document
14-G: A sample of the procedure adopted by the Select Committee on Building Problems of Public Housing Units for the provision of transcripts of evidence to witnesses and prospective witnesses