Under rule 51 of the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council, it is necessary for a Member’s Bill to be certified by the Law Draftsman as conforming to the requirements of rule 50 of those Rules of Procedure and the general form of legislation.
The vetting role of the Law Drafting Division is strictly limited to ensuring that a Member’s Bill conforms to those requirements. In vetting the proposed Bill, the division does not concern itself with the legal and linguistic accuracy of the provisions and the soundness of the underlying policy. The issue of the certificate does not signify the Law Draftsman’s approval of the standard or quality of the drafting of the Bill. Nor does it signify the Government’s endorsement of the contents of the Bill or the underlying policy.