Hong Kong Regulations

CHURCH OF ENGLAND TRUST (CHURCH COUNCILS) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 17

Annual church meeting

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING

(1) There shall be held annually in connection with each church not later than
31st of May the annual church meeting of qualified and duly enrolled electors-

   (a)  for receiving from the church council and considering-

        (i)    a copy or copies of the electoral roll;

        (ii)   an annual report on its proceedings;

        (iii)  a statement of the financial affairs of the church;

   (b)  for electing representatives to be members of the body of The Trustees
        of the Church of England in the Diocese of Victoria, Hong Kong;

   (c)  for electing the church council;

   (d)  for electing representatives to the Diocesan Conference;

   (e)  for electing sidesmen;

   (f)  for electing an auditor;

   (g)  for the transaction of any other business connected with the affairs
        of the church. (L.N. 102 of 1970)

(2) All the above matters shall be open to free discussion and before the
report is proposed for adoption and it shall be open to any member of the
meeting to ask any question about church matters or bring about a discussion
of any manner of general church interest by moving a general resolution or by
moving to give any particular recommendation to the church council in the
fulfilment of its duties. The meeting shall have power to adjourn and to
determine its own time of meeting and rules of procedure.

(3) The meeting shall be convened by the incumbent or clergyman in charge by
notice (in the form hereafter set forth) affixed at or near the principal door
of the church for a period including the two Sundays immediately preceding the
day of the meeting. The meeting shall be held in such place at such date and
hour as shall be directed by the church council or in the absence of such
direction as shall be fixed by the incumbent or clergyman in charge.

Form of notice

Notice is hereby given that the annual church meeting of the church will be
held at on day the day of , 19 , at o'clock in the noon for the purposes
following, namely-

   (a)  the election of representatives to the board of the trustees of the
        Church of England in the Diocese of Victoria, Hong Kong;

   (b)  the election of the church council;

   (c)  the election of representatives to the Diocesan Conference;

   (d)  the election of sidesmen;

   (e)  the election of an auditor;

   (f)  the receiving from the church council and considering-

        (i)    a copy or copies of the electoral roll;

        (ii)   an annual report on its proceedings;

        (iii)  a statement of the financial affairs of the church;

   (g)  the transacting of any other business connected with the affairs of
        the church.

Dated this day of , 19 .

............................................. Incumbent

(4) Fifteen electors shall be a quorum at the annual or a special church
meeting of Saint John's Cathedral Church, of Saint Andrew's Church, Kowloon,
of Christ Church, Kowloon Tong, or of any other church that comes within the
provisions of the Church of England Trust Ordinance ( Cap  1014). (L.N. 102 of
1970)

(5) The incumbent or clergyman in charge shall be the chairman of the meeting
if present and if not a chairman shall be chosen by and from the electors
present who shall preside at the meeting but no clerical chairman shall have a
vote (except a casting vote) in the election of the church council.

(6) (a) The candidates must either previously to the meeting by written notice
to the convenor thereof or at the meeting be nominated by one elector and
seconded by another.

   (b)  If more candidates are nominated than there are seats to be filled the
        election shall take place at the meeting unless a poll is demanded by
        at least three of the voters present at the meeting.

   (c)  At every election each elector on the roll shall have as many votes as
        there are persons to be elected but may not give more than one vote to
        any one candidate.

   (d)  Where an equality of votes renders a casting vote necessary to decide
        the election it shall be given by the person presiding over the
        election.

   (e)  The result of an election shall be forthwith announced by the person
        presiding over the election and a notice of the result shall be
        affixed at or near the principal door of the church and the notice
        shall be left so affixed for not less than fourteen days following the
        date of election.