Legislative Council in Brief

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A “quorum” is the minimum number of Members which must be present before the Legislative Council and its committees can conduct their business. If a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be adjourned.
NUMBER OF MEMBERS CONSTITUTING A QUORUM

As prescribed in Article 75 of the Basic Law and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (“RoP”), the quorum of the Legislative Council shall be not less than one half of all its Members. RoP also set out the quorum for the committees of the Legislative Council.

Council/Committees Quorum
The Legislative Council Not less than one half of all Legislative Council Members including the President of the Legislative Council (“the President”)
Committee of the whole Council 20 members including the Chairman
Finance Committee The Chairman and other eight members
Public Accounts Committee The Chairman and other two members
Committee on Members’ Interests The Chairman and other two members
Investigation committee Five members including the Chairman
Committee on Rules of Procedure The Chairman and other three members
Committee on Access to the Legislature’s Documents and Records The Chairman and other three members
House Committee 20 members including the Chairman
Bills Committees Three members including the Chairman, or one third of the members including the Chairman, whichever is the greater.
Panels Three members including the Chairman, or one third of the members including the Chairman, whichever is the greater.
Select committees One third of the members excluding the Chairman
WHAT HAPPENS IF A QUORUM IS NOT PRESENT

The President and the Chairman of committee have a duty to declare the absence of a quorum if they notice a quorum is not present, at least before starting the meeting and taking any vote. Any Member who notices the absence of a quorum during a meeting can take it to the attention of the President or Chairman. If a quorum is not present during a meeting but no notice is taken, the meeting may continue without its validity being affected.

In a Council meeting

If the attention of the President is drawn to the fact that a quorum is not present during a Council meeting, a count must be made. If a quorum is not present, the President shall direct the Members to be summoned. The quorum bell is rung to call in the Members until enough Members are present to form a quorum. If after 15 minutes have expired and a quorum is still not present, the President shall adjourn the Legislative Council. The President may call a meeting to complete the unfinished business on the agenda after the Legislative Council has been so adjourned. Where a Member is absent from a meeting so adjourned without a valid reason, the Member shall be liable to pay a financial penalty as determined in accordance with the House Rules.

In a committee meeting

If a quorum is not present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the meeting, the Chairman shall cancel the meeting. If the attention of the Chairman is drawn to the fact that a quorum is not present during a meeting, the Chairman shall direct the members to be summoned. If after 15 minutes have expired and a quorum is still not present, the Chairman shall close the meeting.

At a division

A division conducted without a quorum present shall be invalid. The quorum bell will be rung to summon Members to form a quorum.

The Basic Law and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region prescribe the quorum for the Legislative Council and its committees
The Basic Law and the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region prescribe the quorum for the Legislative Council and its committees