Demand in the initial period for research and library service prompted expansion, resulting in an increase of three Research Officers, one Librarian and other support staff. The term of office of subsequent Councils is four years. The Legislative Council is constituted by election and is composed of permanent residents of Hong Kong, with the proportion of Members who are not of Chinese nationality or who have the right of abode in foreign countries not exceeding 20 percent of the total membership of the Council. The President of the Council is elected by and from among Members of the Council. The Council normally meets every Wednesday afternoon from October to July, with breaks during major public holidays.
Members carry out their work mainly through a system of committees.
Government officials attend meetings of the Council and its committees to present legislative proposals, explain policies and answer questions from Members. The Chief Executive also attends special Council meetings to brief Members on policy issues and to answer questions from them. All Council and committee meetings are open to the public. Only in special circumstances are committee meetings held in camera. During the session from July 1998 to July 1999, the Council held 35 meetings.