Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017

President's Foreword Chapt r 1 The Legislative Council Chapter 1 The Legislative Council The Basic Lawof theHongKong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR") stipulates that the HKSAR shall be vested with legislative power and the Legislative Council shall be the legislature of the Region. Powers and functions Pursuant to Article 73 of the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the HKSAR shall exercise the following powers and functions: • • To enact, amend or repeal laws in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law and legal procedures; • • To examine and approve budgets introduced by the government; • • To approve taxation and public expenditure; • • To receive and debate the policy addresses of the Chief Executive; • • To raise questions on the work of the government; • • To debate any issue concerning public interests; • • To endorse the appointment and removal of the judges of the Court of Final Appeal and the Chief Judge of the High Court; • • To receive and handle complaints from Hong Kong residents; • • If a motion initiated jointly by one-fourth of all the members of the Legislative Council charges the Chief Executive with serious breach of law or dereliction of duty and if he or she refuses to resign, the Council may, after passing a motion for investigation, give a mandate to the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal to form and chair an independent investigation committee. The committee shall be responsible for carrying out the investigation and reporting its findings to the Council. If the committee considers the evidence sufficient to substantiate such charges, the 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. Under Article 66 of the Basic Law, the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region shall be the legislature of the Region. Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017 15 14 Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017