Hong Kong Ordinances

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ORDINANCE - SECT 3

Interpretation

(Past version on 01/10/2004).
(Past version on 11/07/2003).
(Past version on 27/12/2002).
(Past version on 21/09/2001).
(Past version on 01/07/2000).
(Past version on 03/03/2000).
(Past version on 30/07/1999).
(Past version on 03/10/1997).

For the saving and transitional provisions relating to the amendments made by
the Resolution of the Legislative Council (L.N. 130 of 2007), see paragraph
(12) of that Resolution.

(1) In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-

"authorized representative" (獲授權代表), in relation to a
corporate elector, means the person authorized by the corporate elector to
cast its vote at an election;

"body" (團體) means an incorporated or unincorporated body, and includes a
firm or a group of persons (which may include incorporated or unincorporated
bodies) who are associated with each other through a shared relevant interest;

"by-election" (補選) means an election to return a Member or Members
otherwise than at a general election;

"candidate" (候選人) means a candidate nominated for election as a Member;

"Clerk to the Legislative Council" (立法會秘書) includes any person
appointed to act in place of the Clerk when the Clerk is absent or when the
office of Clerk is vacant;

"constituency" (選區或選舉界別) means-

   (a)  a geographical constituency; or

   (b)  a functional constituency;

"corporate elector" (團體選民) means a body that is an elector for a
functional constituency;

"corporate member" (團體成員), in relation to a body specified in
sections 20A to 20ZB, means a body that is a member of the specified body; <* Note - 

Exp. X-Ref.: Sections 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F, 20G, 20H, 20I, 20J, 20K,
20L, 20M, 20N, 20O, 20P, 20Q, 20R, 20S, 20T, 20U, 20V, 20W, 20X, 20Y, 20Z,
20ZA, 20ZB *> (Amended 48 of 1999 s. 2)

"costs" (費用、訟費) includes charges and expenses;

"Court" (原訟法庭) means the Court of First Instance;

"District Council ordinary election" (區議會一般選舉) means elections
to elect persons to fill the vacancies caused by the expiration of the
term of  office of the elected members of District Councils; (Added 33 of 2002
s. 2)

"election" (選舉) means an election to elect a Member at a general election
or a by-election to elect a Member; (Amended 21 of 2001 s. 62)

"election petition" (選舉呈請、選舉呈請書) means an
election petition lodged under Part VII;

"elector" (選民) means a person who is registered in accordance with this
Ordinance in a final register and who is not disqualified from being
registered or from voting at an election; (Replaced 25 of 2003 s. 2)

"Electoral Affairs Commission" (選舉管理委員會) means the
Electoral Affairs  Commission established by section 3 of the
Electoral Affairs Commission  Ordinance ( Cap 541);

"electoral officer" (選舉事務主任) includes a Returning Officer, an
Assistant Returning Officer, the Electoral Registration Officer, or any other
person who is appointed under this Ordinance or the
Electoral Affairs Commission  Ordinance ( Cap 541) to exercise functions or
perform duties at or in connection with an election;

"Electoral Registration Officer" (選舉登記主任) means the person holding
office as Electoral Registration Officer under section 75, and includes any
person appointed to act in place of the Officer when the Officer is absent or
when the office is vacant;

"final register" (正式選民登記冊) means-

   (a)  a final register of electors for geographical constituencies or
        functional constituencies; or

   (b)  (Repealed 21 of 2001 s. 62) as compiled and published in accordance
        with this Ordinance;

"function" (職能) includes a power and an authority;

"functional constituency" (功能界別) means a functional constituency
specified in section 20(1); (Amended 48 of 1999 s. 2)

"general election" (換屆選舉) means elections to elect persons to be the
Members for a new term of office of the Legislative Council;

"geographical constituency" (地方選區) means an area declared to be a
geographical constituency in accordance with Part III;

"identity document" (身分證明文件) means-

   (a)  an identity card issued to a person under the Registration of 
        Persons Ordinance ( Cap 177); or

   (b)  a document issued to a person under regulations in force under that
        Ordinance certifying that the person is exempt from being required to
        register under that Ordinance; or

   (c)  any other document issued to a person that is acceptable to the
        Electoral Registration Officer as proof of the person's identity;

"Legislative Council" (立法會) means the Legislative Council of the Hong
Kong Special Administrative Region referred to in Article 66 of the Basic Law;

"Member" (議員) means a person elected as a Member of the Legislative 
Council;

"nomination list" (提名名單) means a list of persons standing for election
as Members for a geographical constituency, submitted under section 38(2);

"officer" (高級人員), in relation to a body corporate, includes a director
or executive, or any other person concerned in the management, of the body;

"permanent resident of Hong Kong" (香港永久性居民) means a permanent
resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region as defined by
section 2 of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Passports Ordinance (
Cap 539);

"President" (主席) means the President of the Legislative Council;

"provisional register" (臨時選民登記冊) means a provisional register of
electors for geographical constituencies or functional constituencies as
compiled in accordance with this Ordinance;

"registered" (登記) means registered under this Ordinance as an elector;

"the regulations" (《規例》) means regulations made and in force under
this Ordinance;

"Returning Officer" (選舉主任) means a person holding office as a
Returning  Officer under section 78, and includes any person appointed to act
in place of such an Officer when the Officer is absent or when an office of
Returning Officer is vacant;

"Revising Officer" (審裁官) means a Revising Officer appointed under
section  77 , and includes any person appointed to act in place of the Officer
when the Officer is absent or when the office of Revising Officer is vacant;

"specified form" (指明表格) means a form specified under section 76;

"term of office" (任期), in relation to the Legislative Council, means a
term of office referred to in section 4. (Amended 10 of 2000 s. 47; 25 of 2003
s. 2)

(2) For the purposes of this Ordinance-

   (a)  the circumstances in which a person has a substantial connection with
        a body include, but are not limited to, being a member, partner,
        officer or employee of the body; and

   (b)  the circumstances in which a person has a substantial connection with
        a functional constituency include, but are not limited to-

        (i)    being a member, partner, officer or employee of a corporate 
               elector of the constituency or a corporate member of such a
               corporate  elector; or

        (ii)   belonging to a class of persons specified as being electors of
               the constituency. (Amended 48 of 1999 s. 2; 21 of 2001 s. 62)

   (c)  (Repealed 21 of 2001 s. 62)

(2A) For the purposes of this Ordinance, a reference to an entitlement to vote
at a general meeting of a body is a reference to an entitlement to vote at
such a meeting as provided by the body's constitution and, in this subsection-

   (a)  the reference to the constitution of a body is a reference to the
        constitution either-

        (i)    as in force at the commencement of the provision which first
               specifies the body for the purpose of the composition of the
               relevant functional constituency; or (Amended 25 of 2003 s. 2)

        (ii)   as subsequently amended or substituted, but only if the
               amendment or substitution, in so far as it relates to- (A) the
               objects of the body; or (B) the criteria and conditions of
               membership of the body; or (C) the eligibility of members of
               the body to vote at a general meeting of the body, has been
               approved in writing by the Secretary for Constitutional and
               Mainland Affairs; and (Amended L.N. 130 of 2007)

        (b)	"constitution" (章程), in relation to a body, includes articles 
of association and rules. (Added 48 of 1999 s. 2)

(2B) For the avoidance of doubt, it is stated that the power of the Secretary
for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs under subsection (2A) to approve an
amendment to or substitution of the constitution of a body may be exercised
only for the purpose of defining the composition of the relevant
functional constituency. (Added 25 of 2003 s. 2. Amended L.N. 130 of 2007)

(3) Results of a general election that are declared on different dates are,
for the purposes of this Ordinance, taken to have been declared on the later
or latest of those dates. (Amended 21 of 2001 s. 62)

(4) A note located in the text of this Ordinance is provided for information
only and has no legislative effect.

"authorized representative" (獲授權代表)

"body" (團體)

"by-election" (補選)

"candidate" (候選人)

"Clerk to the Legislative Council" (立法會秘書)

"constituency" (選區或選舉界別)

"corporate elector" (團體選民)

"corporate member" (團體成員)

"costs" (費用、訟費)

"Court" (原訟法庭)

"District Council ordinary election" (區議會一般選舉)

"election" (選舉)

"election petition" (選舉呈請、選舉呈請書)

"elector" (選民)

"Electoral Affairs Commission" (選舉管理委員會)

"electoral officer" (選舉事務主任)

"Electoral Registration Officer" (選舉登記主任)

"final register" (正式選民登記冊)

"function" (職能)

"functional constituency" (功能界別)

"general election" (換屆選舉)

"geographical constituency" (地方選區)

"identity document" (身分證明文件)

"Legislative Council" (立法會)

"Member" (議員)

"nomination list" (提名名單)

"officer" (高級人員)

"permanent resident of Hong Kong" (香港永久性居民)

"President" (主席)

"provisional register" (臨時選民登記冊)

"registered" (登記)

"the regulations" (《規例》)

"Returning Officer" (選舉主任)

"Revising Officer" (審裁官)

"specified form" (指明表格)

"term of office" (任期)

"constitution" (章程)