Page 7 - Mini-Module 9

What do we find in law?

There are different sources of law in Hong Kong.

1. Legislation

Legislation is the body of ordinances enacted by the Legislative
Council. Usually the Administration tables and gazettes a draft
bill, and after legislators discuss and amend the draft, they enact
the bill into law. All such law can be found on the Internet at the
Department of Justice Bilingual Laws Information System at
http://www.legislation.gov.hk/eng/home.htm.

An Ordinance is known as “primary legislation”. It is common to
refer to an Ordinance by its name and chapter number, (or Cap.
Number for short) However, details of certain functions,
requirements or fees payable are set out in “subsidiary
legislation” which is also sometimes known as “subordinate
legislation”, such as rules. Essentially the legislators have
delegated the rule making power to different authorities, usually
the Administration, and they monitor the passing of such rules
through negative vetting.

The principal set of legislation governing the operation of
schools and educational activity is in the Education Ordinance
(Cap. 279 of the Laws of Hong Kong) which also consists of the

following subsidiary legislation.
● Cap 279A Education Regulations
● Cap 279B Education (Exemption) Order
● CAP 279C Grant Schools Provident Fund Rules
● Cap 279D Subsidized Schools Provident Fund Rules
● Cap 279E Education (Overseas Tertiary Institutions) (Exemption)
Order

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