Table of Contents

Chapter 2

The Legislative Council
Introductory
Powers and functions of the Legislative Council
Making of laws
Approval of budgets, taxation and public expenditure
Monitoring the work of the Government
Endorsement of appointment and removal of senior judges
Power to order attendance of witnesses
Privileges and Immunities of the Legislative Council
Privileges of the Legislature under the common law
The Legislative Council's power to summon witnesses
Control over the precincts of the Chamber
Freedom of speech
Freedom from arrest
Exemption from jury service
Exemption from attendance as a witness in civil proceedings
Interfering with Members, officers or witnesses
Prosecution for an offence under the Powers and Privilege Ordinance
Composition of the Legislative Council
Formation of the First Legislative Council (1998-2000)
Formation of the Second Legislative Council (2000-2004)
Formation of the Third Legislative Council (2004-2008)
Formation of the Fourth Legislative Council (2008-2012)
Formation of the Fifth Legislative Council (2012-2016)
Term of office of the Legislative Council
Terms and sessions
Council meeting dates, recess and breaks
Adjournment of the Council
Prorogation of the Council
Dissolution of the Council
Order of precedence of Members
The President of the Legislative Council
Powers and functions of the President of the Legislative Council
Election of the President
Term of office
Voting right
The President's deputy
The Clerk to the Legislative Council
The Counsel to the Legislature
Other officers of the Council

List of Appendices

2-A

Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on issues relating to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2007 and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2008 (adopted by the Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress at its Ninth Session on 26 April 2004)

2-B

Decision of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on issues relating to the methods for selecting the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year and for forming the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in the Year 2012 and on issues relating to universal suffrage (adopted by the ‍Standing Committee of the Tenth National People's Congress at its Thirty-first Session on 29 December 2007)