Provisional Legislative Council

Provisional Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
香港特別行政區臨時立法會
Type
Type
History
Established 25 January 1997
Disbanded 30 June 1998
Preceded by Colonial Legislative Council
Succeeded by Legislative Council HKSAR
Leadership
President
Seats 60
Elections
Plurality-at-large by Selection Committee
Meeting place
Huaxia Art Centre (February–June 1997)
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (1 July 1997)
Legislative Council Building (1 July 1997 – 30 June 1998)

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 serve as the temporary replacement of the 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. The official start date for this council was on 25 January 1997.[1]

History

The Provisional Legco was set up in 1996 by the People's Republic of China (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.

Legislative Council Building

For the first five months, the PLC met in one of the conference halls at the Shenzhen Guesthouse Hotel. 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.

Organisation

President of the Provisional Legislative Council

The president of the PLC was Rita Fan, who later led the legislative council following the handover.

Members

Officers of the Provisional Legislative Council

The only officer found in the records was for the Clerk, Pauline Ng Man-Wah. Immediately after the Provisional Legislative Council was disbanded, she became the clerk of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. She retired from this position on 28 August 2012.[2]

Standing committees

  • Finance Committee
  • Public Accounts Committee
  • Committee of Members' Interest

Meeting broadcast

Sessions of the PLC were broadcast with assistance from the Shenzhen Television Station.[3]

Criticism

The PLC received heavy attack for its lack of legitimacy and representation. The replacement of a (partially) democratically elected legislature with a wholly appointed body was regarded by some as "a setback to the democratization in Hong Kong". Critics also described the PLC as a rubber stamp of the Chief Executive. [4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ History of the Legco
  2. ↑ "政情：吳文華退休生活忙過返工".
  3. ↑ http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr97-98/english/sec/a_rpt9798.pdf
  4. ↑ Wong, Timothy Ka-ying (1998). "The First Legislative Council Election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Meaning and Impact". Issues & Studies. 34 (9): 129.
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