Provisional Legislative Council
Encyclopedia
The Provisional Legislative Council or the PLC (Chinese
: 臨時立法會, frequently abbreviated to 臨立會) was the interim legislature of Hong Kong from 1997 to 1998. The legislature was founded in Guangzhou
and sat in Shenzhen
from 1996 (with offices in Hong Kong) until the handover in 1997 and moved to Hong Kong
to serves as the temporary replacement of Legislative Council of Hong Kong
. It was established by the Preparatory Committee for HKSAR by resolution at its Second Plenary Session on 24 March 1996. The 60 members in PLC were elected on 21 December 1996 by the 400-member Selection Committee for the First Government of the HKSAR, which also elected the first Chief Executive. Official start date for this council was on 25 Jan 1997.
(PRC) to serve as a provisional legislature
of Hong Kong
, after the proposal package of electoral changes for the 1995 Legislative Council elections that was deemed unconstitutional by the PRC was passed in the Legislative Council. It was believed that the formation of the council according to the proposal by the government of Chris Patten
, then governor
, favoured pro-democracy candidates.
. From 1 July 1997 to 1998 it sat at Legislative Council Building
in Hong Kong.
Council committees and the Legco Secretariat sat at various locations:
The Council held 60 meetings, 17 motions and passed 13 bills introduced by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
.
The Legco Secretariat offices were on the 3 floor of the Huaxia Art Centre.
by the 400 member Selection Committee, an electoral college handpicked by the PRC. It met in the city of Shenzhen
across the border, until it replaced the Legislative Council upon the transfer of sovereignty
. The term of the PLC lasted until the first legislative elections in 1998.
Until the handover, the PLC had no legal standing in Hong Kong and acted as a transition body for the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In the first five months prior to the handover, the PLC was involved in transition work towards replacing the British legislature:
After 30 June 1997, the members of the Legislative Council are seated to the left and front of the President's chair in the chambers. The three rows to the right are reserved for the secretaries and other civil servants of the government, and other people whom appear in the meetings.
, whom later lead the legislative council following the handover.
Traditional Chinese character
Traditional Chinese characters refers to Chinese characters in any character set which does not contain newly created characters or character substitutions performed after 1946. It most commonly refers to characters in the standardized character sets of Taiwan, of Hong Kong, or in the Kangxi...
: 臨時立法會, frequently abbreviated to 臨立會) was the interim legislature of Hong Kong from 1997 to 1998. The legislature was founded in Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
and sat in Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
from 1996 (with offices in Hong Kong) until the handover in 1997 and moved to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to serves as the temporary replacement of Legislative Council of Hong Kong
Legislative Council of Hong Kong
The Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
. It was established by the Preparatory Committee for HKSAR by resolution at its Second Plenary Session on 24 March 1996. The 60 members in PLC were elected on 21 December 1996 by the 400-member Selection Committee for the First Government of the HKSAR, which also elected the first Chief Executive. Official start date for this council was on 25 Jan 1997.
History
The Provisional Legco was set up in 1996 by the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
(PRC) to serve as a provisional legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, after the proposal package of electoral changes for the 1995 Legislative Council elections that was deemed unconstitutional by the PRC was passed in the Legislative Council. It was believed that the formation of the council according to the proposal by the government of Chris Patten
Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....
, then governor
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
, favoured pro-democracy candidates.
Legislative Council Building
For the first five months, the PLC met in one of the conference halls at the Shenzhen Guesthouse HotelShenzhen Guesthouse Hotel
Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel is a three star hotel in Shenzhen, China and one of the conference halls housed the Provisional Legislative Council of Hong Kong from January 1996 to June 1997....
. From 1 July 1997 to 1998 it sat at Legislative Council Building
Legislative Council Building
The Legislative Council Building of Hong Kong, also called the Former Supreme Court Building , was the home of the former Supreme Court until 1985, when it was renamed and became home to the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Members of the Council and the President have offices in this building...
in Hong Kong.
Council committees and the Legco Secretariat sat at various locations:
- Huaxia Art Centre, Shenzhen from 22 February to 21 June 1997
- Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition CentreHong Kong Convention and Exhibition CentreThe Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of the two major convention and exhibition venues in Hong Kong, along with AsiaWorld-Expo. It is located in Wan Chai North, Hong Kong Island. Built along the Victoria Harbour, it is linked by covered walkways to nearby hotels and commercial...
Extension - 1 July 1997
The Council held 60 meetings, 17 motions and passed 13 bills introduced by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong
Chief Executive of Hong Kong
The Chief Executive of Hong Kong is the President of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and head of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The position was created to replace the Governor of Hong Kong, who was the head of the Hong Kong government during British rule...
.
The Legco Secretariat offices were on the 3 floor of the Huaxia Art Centre.
Organization
The 60-member Provisional Legislative Council was elected in 1996 by block votePlurality-at-large voting
Plurality-at-large voting is a non-proportional voting system for electing several representatives from a single multimember electoral district using a series of check boxes and tallying votes similar to a plurality election...
by the 400 member Selection Committee, an electoral college handpicked by the PRC. It met in the city of Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
across the border, until it replaced the Legislative Council upon the transfer of sovereignty
Transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong
The transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China, referred to as ‘the Return’ or ‘the Reunification’ by the Chinese and ‘the Handover’ by others, took place on 1 July 1997...
. The term of the PLC lasted until the first legislative elections in 1998.
Until the handover, the PLC had no legal standing in Hong Kong and acted as a transition body for the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
In the first five months prior to the handover, the PLC was involved in transition work towards replacing the British legislature:
- devising a new electoral system to govern polls for the SAR’s first Legislative
- appointment of top judges to Hong Kong's new courts
- review and sanction of the 1997-1998 budget
- voting on proposals by the Preparatory Committee to amend or repeal some of the pre-existent Hong Kong laws
Seating Arrangement
The PLC likely sat around a conference when it met at the Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel. The President of the PLC sat at one end of the table.After 30 June 1997, the members of the Legislative Council are seated to the left and front of the President's chair in the chambers. The three rows to the right are reserved for the secretaries and other civil servants of the government, and other people whom appear in the meetings.
President of the Provisional Legislative Council
The Presidents of the PLC was Rita FanRita Fan
Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai GBM GBS CBE JP was the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1997. She was the first woman to hold that position....
, whom later lead the legislative council following the handover.
Members
A list of members of the legislative council from 1996 to 1998:- Leong Che-hung
- Rita FanRita FanRita Fan Hsu Lai-tai GBM GBS CBE JP was the President of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong after the transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom in 1997. She was the first woman to hold that position....
- President or Presiding Officer - Chow Liang Shuk-yeeSelina ChowSelina Chow Liang Shuk-yee, GBS OBE JP was a member of the Executive Council of Hong Kong and the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. She was the former vice-chairman of the Liberal Party . She is also well-known in Hong Kong for her career in broadcasting.An alumnus of St...
- Andrew WongAndrew WongAndrew Wong Wang Fat OBE, JP, was the last president of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong during British rule. He was the only person of Chinese ethnicity to have served in the position during British rule....
- Frederick FungFrederick FungFrederick Fung Kin-kee SBS, JP is the former chairman of the Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood , a pro-democracy political party in Hong Kong...
- Cheng Kai-nam - jailed for stealing and selling info
- Wong Siu-Yee
- James TienJames TienJames Tien Pei-chun GBS OBE JP is the former Chairman of the Liberal Party , a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong . He was also a member of the District Council of Hong Kong in the Central and Western district...
- David Chu Yu-Lin
- Ho Sai-Chu
- Edward Ho Sing-Tin
- Dr Raymond Ho Chung-Tai
- Ng Leung Sing
- Professor Ng Ching Fai
- Eric Li Ka Cheung
- Lee Kai Ming
- Allen LeeAllen LeeAllen Lee Peng Fei , CBE, JP, is a founding member of Liberal Party of Hong Kong, veteran Hong Kong politician, political programme radio host and TV host. Jonathan Dimbleby described him as a "weather vane" in his book The Last Governor.Lee was a senior member of the Legislative Council of Hong...
- Elsie TuElsie TuElsie Hume Elliot Tu or Elsie Tu , GBM, CBE, is a prominent social activist, former elected member of the Urban Council of Hong Kong, and former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong...
- Peggy Lam Pei Yu Dja
- Henry Wu
- Ngai Shiu Kit
- Henry TangHenry TangHenry Tang Ying-yen, GBM, GBS, JP was the Chief Secretary for Administration of Hong Kong until his resignation in September 2011. He is a candidate in the Hong Kong Chief Executive election of 2012, and believed to be preferred by Beijing....
- Yuen MoYuen MoYuen Mo GBS JP is a business leader in Hong Kong.He joined China Merchants, a shipping company, in 1964, and served in various positions such as Deputy General Manager of Hong Kong Ming Wah Shipping Co. Ltd., Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Steam Navigation Co...
- Ma Fung Kwok
- Cheung Hon Chung
- Dr Tso Wong Man Yin
- Leung Chun YingLeung Chun YingLeung Chun-ying GBM GBS JP , commonly known as CY, was the Convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong until his resignation in September 2011....
- Dr Leong Che HungLeong Che HungEdward Leong Che-hung, GBS, OBE, JP is the non-official member of Executive Council of Hong Kong.By training, a physician, he was graduated from the University of Hong Kong as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery....
- Sophie Leung La Yau Fan
- Mok Ying Fan
- Hui Yin Fat
- Chan Choi Hi
- Chan Yuen HanChan Yuen HanChan Yuen-han, SBS, JP, nicknamed Sister Han , is a noted Hong Kong female trade unionist...
- Chan Wing Chan
- Chan Kam Lam
- Jasper Tsang Yok-singTsang Yok-singJasper Tsang Yok-sing, GBS JP was the founding Chairman of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong , the largest pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong....
- Cheung Kai Nam
- Dr Philip Wong Yu Hong
- Kennedy Wong Ying Ho
- Dr Charles Yeung Chun Kam
- Yeung Yiu Chung
- Ip Kwok HimIp Kwok HimIp Kwok-him, GBS, JP is a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong ....
- Chim Pui ChungChim Pui ChungChim Pui Chung is the member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , representing financial services industry in functional constituencies seats...
- Bruce Liu Sing Lee
- Lau Kwong Wah
- Lau Wong FatLau Wong FatLau Wong Fat, GBM, GBS, OBE, JP is a member of the Hong Kong Executive Council as well as the Hong Kong Legislative Council, representing the Heung Yee Kuk constituency. He is chairman of the New Territories Heung Yee Kuk and the Tuen Mun District Council...
- Miriam Lau Kin Yee
- Ambrose LauAmbrose LauAmbrose Lau Hon-chuen GBS JP was the chairman of the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance , a pro-business and pro-Beijing political party in Hong Kong. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong , elected from the constituency of Election Committee...
Hong-Chuen - Choy Kan Pui
- Paul Cheng Ming Fun
- Cheung Yiu Tong
- Dr Tan Siu Tong
- Timothy FokTimothy FokTimothy Fok Tsun-ting , GBS, JP, the eldest son of Henry Fok, is a Member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, representing the Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication functional constituency...
- Kan Fook Yee
- Ngan Kam Chuen
- Lo Suk Ching
- Dr. Law Cheung Kwok
- Maria Tam Wai Chu
- Tam Yiu-Chung
- Dr. David Li Kwok Po
- Ronald ArculliRonald ArculliRonald Joseph Arculli, GBM, GBS, CVO, OBE, JP is chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing and Non-official Members Convenor of the Executive Council of Hong Kong . He is a Hong Kong solicitor and a founding partner of the law firm, Arculli, Fong, & Ng, which later merged with King &...
- Howard YoungHoward YoungHoward Young How Wah was the member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and the member of Southern District Council. He is the member of Liberal Party...
Officers of the Provisional Legislative Council
The only officer found in the records was for the Clerk, Pauline Ng Man-Wah. Ng is now the Clerk of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.Standing Committees
- Finance Committee
- Public Accounts Committee
- Committee of Members' Interest
See also
- Legislative Council of Hong KongLegislative Council of Hong KongThe Legislative Council is the unicameral legislature of Hong Kong.-History:The Legislative Council of Hong Kong was set up in 1843 as a colonial legislature under British rule...
- Provisional Executive Council of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Provisional Legislature election, 1996Hong Kong Provisional Legislature election, 1996Hong Kong Provisional Legislature election, 1996 was an election that took place during the transition from British to Chinese administration governing Hong Kong.-Candidates and results:...
- Legislation of the Provisional Government of Hong KongLegislation of the Provisional Government of Hong KongThis is a list of bills that were introduced and passed into law and became ordinances of the territory by the Provisional Legislative Council that sat for a year from July 1997 to 1998....