CPD Course:
Effective Representation
Before the
Legislative Council
- An Introduction to
Rules and Practices of the
Legislative Council

Dr. Jimmy Ma was Legal Adviser of the Legislative Council Secretariat from 1996 to June 2015, heading the Legal Service Division of the Secretariat.  The Division is responsible for providing legal advice and support to the Council and its committees on matters relating to the business of the Council, and The Legislative Council Commission on in-house legal matters.

During his tenure as Legal Adviser, he was ex officio Counsel to the Legislature, responsible for advising the President of the Legislative Council and the Clerk to the Legislative Council on legal matters relating to the proceedings of the Council.

Dr. Ma was admitted as a barrister of the Hong Kong Bar in 1985, and as an attorney of the California Bar in 1991.  He obtained his doctorate degree in law from Peking University in 2006, specializing in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  In 2013, Dr. Ma was accredited as a mediator.

Dr. Ma was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1998 and was awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star in 2015.

This course will provide an examination of the rules and practices adopted by the Legislative Council in the exercise and performance of its powers and functions under the Basic Law with a view to assisting legal practitioners in their handling of matters involving the Council, which may necessitate their appearing before the Council's committees on behalf of their clients.

• Law making process
1. The 3-reading procedure on a bill
2. Operation of Bills Committees
3. Amendment to bills
• Scrutiny of subsidiary legislation
1. The negative vetting procedure - LegCo's power to amend subsidiary legislation tabled
2. The positive vetting procedure - LegCo's power to approve and amend proposed subsidiary legislation
3. LegCo procedures for scrutiny of subsidiary legislation
4. Limitations on amendments to subsidiary legislation
• Approval of public expenditure
1. Appropriation Bill and the Estimates
2. Changes to the Estimates by Finance Committee under the Public Finance Ordinance
3. Statutory Funds
• Operation of committees vested with investigatory powers
1. Provisions in the Basic Law and Rules of Procedure
2. Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance
3. Practice and procedure of committees