RULES OF PROCEDURE OF
THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF
THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION

MADE BY THE PROVISIONAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF
THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
ON 12 APRIL 1997.



PART D
PETITIONS AND PAPERS


20. Presentation of Petitions

   (1) A petition may be presented to the Council only by a Member.

   (2) A Member who wishes to present a petition to the Council shall inform the President not later than the day before the meeting at which he wishes to present it. When so informing the President he shall certify in writing to the President that the petition is respectful and, in his opinion, deserving of presentation.

   (3) Except with the written consent of the Chief Executive, the President shall not permit a petition to be received if, in his opinion, the petition requests that provision should be made for imposing or increasing a tax, for imposing or increasing a charge on the revenue or other public moneys of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region or for altering such a charge otherwise than by reducing it, or for compounding or remitting a debt due to the Government.

   (4) The signification of the Chief Executive consent shall be recorded in the minutes of proceedings.

   (5) No speech shall be made by a Member presenting a petition beyond a summary statement of the number and description of the petitioners and the substance of the petition.

   (6) If, immediately after a petition has been presented, a Member rises in his place and requests that the petition be referred to a select committee, the President shall call upon those Members who support the request to rise in their places. If not less than 20 Members then rise the petition shall stand referred to a select committee.



21. Presentation of Papers

   (1) A paper may be presented to the Council by a designated public officer or, with the permission of the President, by a Member.

   (2) Whenever a Member or a designated public officer wishes to present a paper he shall send a copy of it to the Clerk, who shall distribute a copy to each Member and may also arrange for its publication. A copy of the paper shall be laid on the Table of the Council at the opening of the next meeting and the Clerk shall record its laying and the date of publication in the minutes of the proceedings of that meeting.

   (3) Whenever a paper has been laid on the Table of the Council, the Member or the designated public officer presenting it may, with the permission of the President, address the Council thereon.

   (4) A Member or a designated public officer may, with the consent of the President, address the Council on subsidiary legislation laid on the Table of the Council, provided that the period (or any extended period) under section 34 of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1) for amendment of the subsidiary legislation has not expired. A Member or a designated public officer who wishes to address the Council under this subrule at any meeting shall inform the President of his wish before the beginning of that meeting.

   (5) No debate may arise on any address presented by a Member or a designated public officer under subrule (3) or (4) but the President may in his discretion allow short questions to be put to the Member or the designated public officer making the address for the purpose of elucidating any matter raised by the Member or the designated public officer in the course of his address.