Provisional Legislative Council
The Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) is an interim
legislature to enable the smooth functioning of the HKSAR
until its first Legislative Council can be formed. The main
functions of the PLC are to enact laws, approve public
expenditure, monitor the performance of the government
and endorse the appointment of judges. (More details in
Chapter 2).
Major legislation is enacted in the form of bills. Most business,
including the passage of bills, is transacted by way of motions
which are decided by the majority of the members present. A
bill passed by the PLC becomes law after it is signed and
promulgated by the Chief Executive.
Members of the council may raise questions on the work of
the government. The council meets in public, normally on
Wednesdays, to transact council business. All PLC meetings
and almost all meetings of its committees and subcommittees
are open to the public with simultaneous interpretation in
Cantonese and English.
Up to December 31, 1997, the PLC held a total of 32
meetings - 11 in Shenzhen and 21 in Hong Kong. It enacted
30 bills, while 319 questions and 512 supplementary questions
were asked. During the year, 86 motions were debated at
these meetings, with 56 motions raised by members including
18 on council procedural and administrative matters, nine on
government legislative proposals and 29 relating to government
policies which had no legislative effect. The Chief Executive,
after delivering his first policy address in the council on
October 8, 1997, attended a briefing session of the council,
during which he took 29 questions from members.
Under the terms of its establishment, the PLC shall cease to
operate after the first Legislative Council of the HKSAR is
formed but, in any case, its term shall not extend beyond June
30, 1998. The election for the first Legislative Council of the
HKSAR will be held on May 24 and its term of office shall
commence on July 1, 1998. It will have 60 members: 30 from
functional constituencies, each representing an economic,
social, professional or other sector of the community; 20
returned by geographical constituencies which cover the
whole SAR; and 10 elected by the Election Committee
comprising 800 elected representatives of the community.
Legislative Councillors shall elect one of their fellow members
as President.
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