| (Cap 1014 section 9) [18 January 1930] (2 of 1930 Second Schedule) Cap 1014A reg 1 Meaning of expression "church councils" In these regulations, the expression "church councils" (堂议会) means the bodies constituted under that name by or under the Church of England Trust Ordinance (Cap 1014) Cap 1014A reg 2 Constitution of church councils Every church council shall consist of- (a) the incumbent or clergyman in charge; (b) the senior licensed assistant clergyman, if any; (c) such number of lay representatives (who may be of either sex) as the annual church meeting may from time to time decide. Such lay representatives must be actual communicant members of the Church of England or of a church in communion with it and not entered upon the electoral roll of any other church in the Diocese. No candidate may be elected who has not previously consented to serve. The number may be altered from time to time by a resolution passed at an annual church meeting of the church concerned but so that the alteration shall not take effect till the year following the date at which it is made; (L.N. 102 of 1970) (d) co-opted members if the church council concerned so decides not exceeding in number one-fifth of the elected lay representatives and being either in holy orders or actual lay communicant members of the Church of England of either sex or of a church in communion with it; (L.N. 102 of 1970) (e) the two lay representatives elected at the annual church meeting as members of the body of The Trustees of the Church of England in the Diocese of Victoria, Hong Kong. (L.N. 102 of 1970) Cap 1014A reg 3 Election of lay representatives The election of lay representatives to the church council shall take place at the annual church meeting of the church concerned. Cap 1014A reg 4 Duration of office of lay representatives and co-opted members Lay representatives and co-opted members shall continue in office until the next annual church meeting unless in the meanwhile they vacate office by death, absence of six months, incapacity to act or resignation. Cap 1014A reg 5 Filling up of casual vacancies among lay representatives of co-opted members In the event of death, absence for a period of six months, incapacity to act or resignation of any lay representative or co-opted member on a church council the remaining members may appoint some other qualified person to act in his or her place until the next annual church meeting. Cap 1014A reg 6 Meetings of church councils Meetings of church councils shall be in accordance with the rules of procedure set forth in the Appendix hereto. Cap 1014A reg 7 Secretary and treasurer for church councils Every church council shall appoint a secretary and treasurer as provided for in the rules of procedure. Cap 1014A reg 8 Powers of church councils In addition to the powers conferred by the Church of England Trust Ordinance (Cap 1014), each church council shall have power- (a) to frame an annual budget of moneys required for the maintenance of the work of the church for which it is appointed and otherwise, and to take such steps as it thinks necessary for raising, collecting and allocating such moneys; (b) jointly with the incumbent to determine the objects to which all moneys to be given or collected in the church shall be allocated, and to determine the mode of collection of all donations and the fees to be taken for marriages, burials and other services; (L.N. 102 of 1970) (c) jointly with the incumbent to appoint and dismiss and (if so authorized by the trustees in their letters of delegation) to pay the salaries of assistant chaplains, organists and subordinate officials, and to determine the conditions of the tenure of their offices or of their employment: Provided that no appointment or dismissal of a clergyman shall be valid unless approved in writing by the Bishop;(d) to make representation to the Bishop with regard to any matter affecting the welfare of the church concerned; (e) to make regulations regarding all or any of the following matters- (i) holding of meetings of the church council and the conduct of business thereat; (ii) keeping of accounts of moneys received and expended by the church councils; (iii) all other matters relating to the affairs of the church council: Provided that no regulation shall be valid until it has been approved by an annual or special church meeting: And provided that no regulation shall be inconsistent with the provisions of the Church of England Trust Ordinance (Cap 1014), or with any regulation made thereunder by the trustees. Cap 1014A reg 9 Church councils to keep accounts Every church council shall furnish to the annual church meeting as provided for in regulation 17 an account made up to the 31st December in the year immediately preceding such meeting setting out the income and expenditure of the church council during the year together with a statement of the funds and property, if any, remaining in its hands at the date of the account. Such account and statement having been duly audited shall together with a report upon the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church be submitted for approval at such meeting or at any adjournment thereof and the said account, statement and report if approved shall be signed by the chairman of the meeting and shall be forthwith published and affixed on or near the principal door of the church and any other conspicuous place or places in the parish at the discretion of the church council. A copy of the account, statement and report shall be furnished by the church council to the trustees. |
