The Government today published in the Gazette the Legislative Council (Powers & Privileges) (Amendment) Bill 2025, which aims to improve the system on the performance of duties by Legislative Council members.
The bill, which will be introduced into LegCo for first reading tomorrow, amends the Legislative Council (Powers & Privileges) Ordinance to provide for imposing financial penalties on members suspended under the Rules of Procedure (RoP) from LegCo service due to a breach of the Code for Members of the Legislative Council.
The bill is being introduced in accordance with LegCo’s proposal, in light of its improvement to the system on the performance of duties by members, the introduction of the code, and corresponding amendments to be made to the RoP.
The Government noted that at present, the deprivation of LegCo members’ remuneration and allowance in respect of the period of suspension provided under the ordinance is only applicable to cases of engaging in grossly disorderly conduct.
According to LegCo’s proposal, in future, members who have breached the code and are suspended under the RoP will also be subject to the same deprivation of remuneration and allowance.
The amendments will also provide flexibility to LegCo to cater for deprivation of remuneration and allowance of members suspended from LegCo service for other reasons under the RoP as approved by LegCo in future.
Once the Bill is passed it will take effect starting from the Eighth-Term LegCo in tandem with the code and the amended RoP.
The Government emphasised that it fully appreciates the initiatives taken by LegCo to enhance self-regulation and self-improvement as well as transparency of its operation.
The amendments to the ordinance will facilitate LegCo in striving for continual improvement, thereby optimising the contribution of “patriots administering Hong Kong”, the Government added.
