(2) Except by leave of the Council obtained in accordance with the Standing Orders, no member shall be required to attend as a witness in any civil proceedings on a day when the Council is sitting.
(3) A member shall be exempted from service as a juror in accordance with section 5 of the (Cap. 3.)Jury Ordinance.
Evidence of proceedings in the Council or any committee not to be given without leave. 7. (1) No member or officer of the Council, and no person employed to take minutes or keep any record of evidence before the Council or a committee, shall give evidence elsewhere in respect of the contents of such minutes or record of evidence, or of the contents of any document laid before the Council or committee, as the case may be, or in respect of any proceedings or examination held before the Council or committee, as the case may be, without the special leave of the Council.
(2) During a recess or adjournment of the Council, the special leave referred to in subsection (1) may be given by the President or, if the President is unable to act owing to his absence from Hong Kong or incapacity, in accordance with the Standing Orders.
Regulation of admittance to precincts of the Chamber. 8. (1) Subject to this section, sittings of the Council shall be open to the public.
(2) The right of persons other than members or officers of the Council to enter or remain within the precincts of the Chamber shall be subject to the Standing Orders or any resolution of the Council limiting or prohibiting the enjoyment of such right.
(3) The President may from time to time, for the purpose of maintaining the security of the precincts of the Chamber, ensuring the proper behaviour and decorum of persons therein and for other administrative purposes, issue such administrative instructions as he may deem necessary or expedient for regulating the admittance of persons (other than members or officers of the Council) to, and the conduct of such persons within the Chamber and the precincts of the Chamber.
(4) Copies of administrative instructions issued by the President under subsection (3) shall be duly authenticated by the Clerk and exhibited in a conspicuous position in the precincts of the Chamber; and such copies when so authenticated and exhibited shall be deemed to be sufficient notice to all persons affected thereby.
PART III
Evidence
Power to order attendance of witnesses. 9. (1) The Council or a standing committee thereof may, subject to sections 13 and 14, order any person to attend before the Council or before such committee and to give evidence or to produce any paper, book, record or document in the possession or under the control of such person.
