The beginning and end of ordinary sessions of LegCo each year is published by the Chief Executive in the Hong Kong Government Gazette.
[5] The power to convene special sittings for urgent business after the end of LegCo sessions was first created under the amendment to the Hong Kong Royal Instructions on 30 March 1985.
Section 2 of Article XXIA empowered the Governor of Hong Kong to summon special sittings of the Legislative Council between LegCo sessions.
[6] Subsequently, the Legislative Council amended its Standing Orders in July 1988 to provide for sittings for urgent business under Section 7B.
[7] In effect, Section 7B of the Standing Orders empowered the Legislative Council to hold meetings after a LegCo term ends for debates and votes on Government budgets and appropriation bills.
[10] On 11 August 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPCSC) passed a decision on extending the term of the Sixth Legislative Council of the HKSAR for one year in order to fill the lacuna in LegCo after the Chief Executive-in-council invoked its power in the Emergency Regulations Ordinance and postponed the 2020 Hong Kong legislative election for one year.