MEMBERSHIP RULES OF
THE HONG KONG INTERNET SERVICE
PROVIDERS ASSOCIATION
1. Name
The name of the organization
is "Hong Kong Internet Service Providers Association" ("香 港 互 聯
網 供 應 商 協 會")
( hereinafter called "the Association").
2. Address
The address of the Association is
as stated in Appendix A.
3. Objectives
The objectives of the Association
are as follows:
3.1 Discussion Forum
To serve as a forum for consideration
of issues or topics that may affect the development and deployment
of Internet in Hong Kong.
3.2 To Promote Development of Internet
Industry
To promote development of Internet
infrastructure, fair market competition, and the growth of the Internet
industry in Hong Kong.
3.3 Industry Interest
To formulate and promulgate policy
in respect of regulatory and governmental issues involving the Internet
industry and to represent the Internet industry in its interface
with governmental bodies and the public at large.
3.4 Code of Practice
To establish and maintain a Code
of Practice for Internet Service Providers (hereinafter called "ISPs")
members.
4. Membership
4.1 Categories of members
4.1.1 Members
Any ISP who is a Public Non-Exclusive
Telecommunications Services licensee in Hong Kong is eligible to
join the Association as a member by initially securing a membership
with the Hong Kong Information Technology Federation (hereinafter
called "HKITF"), and upon approval of the Executive Committee and
payment of the membership fees.
4.1.2 Associate Members
Any Internet related company which
has a business registration in Hong Kong is eligible to join the
Association as an associate member, and upon approval of the Executive
Committee. Associate members will not have voting rights and other
terms of Associate membership will be defined by the Executive Council
as required.
4.2 Membership Fees
All members of the Association shall
pay their membership fees to HKITF in accordance with HKITF's rules
and regulations.
4.3 Each member will nominate a representative
("Representative") to represent| and act on behalf of the member
in activities of HKISPA.
5. Membership Rights and Obligations
5.1 All members shall observe and
comply with the Membership Rules of the Association (hereinafter
called "the Membership Rules") and the regulations, rules, and directives
issued by the Executive Committee from time to time.
5.2 Any member who wishes to withdraw
his membership shall inform the Executive Committee by giving at
least thirty (30) days' notice in writing.
5.3 No member shall use the name
of the Association in his own personal dealings, or bring or attempt
to bring the name of the Association into disrepute.
5.4 All members shall observe and
abide by the laws of Hong Kong. The Association shall not be held
liable for any member's breach of the laws.
5.5 All members of the Association
shall be eligible to become Executive Committee
Members of the Association upon election at the General
Meeting.
6. Organization Structure
The supreme authority of the Association
shall be vested in the General Meeting, during the recess of which
the Executive Committee shall be the executive body.
7. General Meetings
7.1 A General Meeting shall be held
once every year within three months prior to the year end of the
Association falling on the 31st day of December, and at such time
and place as determined by the Executive Committee. All other General
Meetings shall be called Extraordinary General Meetings.
7.2 Notice of the General Meetings
and Extraordinary General Meetings shall be sent to
all members of the Association at least fourteen (14)
days before the Meeting.
7.3 The non-receipt of a notice by
any member shall not invalidate the proceedings at any Meeting.
7.4 The quorum of any General Meeting
is twenty percent (20%) of the total members of the Association
either in person or by proxy. If a quorum is not present at any
General Meeting, then the Executive Committee shall give at least
fourteen (14) days' written notice of the date, time and place of
the adjourned meeting, and if at
the adjourned meeting, a quorum either in person or
by proxy is not present within
half an hour of the time appointed for the meeting,
the members present shall form a quorum.
7.5 The business of the General Meeting
shall be:
- To receive and adopt the
Report of the Executive Committee;
- To receive and adopt the
Financial Report of the Association for the previous term;
- To elect members of the
Executive Committee for the ensuing term of office;
- To confirm the appointment
of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, and the Secretary;
- To discuss any other items
on the agenda at the time of the calling of the Meeting.
7.6 Upon receiving a joint written
request of at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the Association,
the Chairman shall organize an Extraordinary General Meeting. The
discussions and resolutions shall be confined only to those points
listed in the request. The quorum for the Extraordinary General Meeting
is the same as the General Meeting, except that the Meeting shall
be closed if a quorum is not present within half an hour from the
time appointed for the meeting.
7.7 All matters submitted to a General
Meeting, except amendments of the Membership Rules, shall be decided
by a simple majority. In the event of equality of votes, the Chairman
shall have a casting vote but the Chairman shall abstain from casting
its
vote if the matter on which it votes on conflicts
with its personal interest and
if this situation arises, the Chairman is required
to declare its personal interest at the
start of the Meeting. Upon the abstention of the Chairman,
the Vice-Chairman shall
have a casting vote.
8. Executive Committee
8.1 The Executive Committee shall
comprise of seven (7) persons elected by the General Meeting. Executive
Council members shall serve on the Executive Council in their personal
capacity and shall act in the best interests of the Association
membership and not the Member organization to which that individual
belongs.
8.2 The first Executive Council shall
hold office until the first AGM is convened, whereupon 4 of the
7 members of the first Executive Council (to be determined by ballot)
shall relinquish office and the Members shall elect 4 succeeding
Executive Council members to office in accordance with the membership
rules. Upon election, the 4 succeeding Executive Council members
shall hold office for 2 years. The remaining 3 members of the first
Executive Council shall continue in office until the second Annual
General Meeting whereupon their successors shall in like manner
be elected and hold office for 2 years.
8.3 The office of any member of the
Executive Committee shall become vacant if that member:
- ceases to be a member;
- makes any arrangements
or composition with its creditors or has received a Receiver appointed
or enters into liquidation (other than a voluntary liquidation
for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation);
- resigns from his office
by giving one (1) month's written notice to the Association;
- is removed by the Association
acting in General Meeting;
- commits a criminal offence.
8.4 The function of the Executive
Committee shall be:
- to plan, organize and monitor
the overall activities of the Association;
- to implement the resolutions
passed at the General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings;
- to attend to the day to
day affairs of the Association including and without limitation,
the organization of activities, solicitation and acceptance of
sponsorship, appropriation of funds to meet recurrent expenses
of the Association;
- to make recommendations
to the General Meetings;
- to terminate membership
of members should there be a breach of the laws of Hong Kong.
Such termination shall only take effect upon approval at the meeting
of the Executive Committee.
- To admit new members.
8.5 The Chairman shall:
- act as Chairman of the
Executive Committee;
- represent the Association;
- direct the various members
of the Executive Committee in their work;
- take overall charge of
the Association;
- preside over all Executive
Committee meetings and General Meetings;
- present on behalf of the
Executive Committee a Report at the General Meetings on the activities
of the Association.
8.6 The Vice Chairman shall:
- assist the Chairman in
his or her work;
- shall act for the Chairman
when he/she is absent or has vacated his/her office.
8.7 The Secretary shall:
- be responsible for the
administration of the Association;
- keep an up to date Register
of the Members; and
- send notices, prepare agenda
(in consultation with the Chairman) and keep minutes of the Executive
Committee meetings and the General Meetings.
8.8 Any vacancy of the Executive
Committee shall be filled by a re-appointment at the Executive Committee
Meetings, General Meetings, or Extraordinary General Meetings.
8.9 Meetings of the Executive Committee
shall be held at such times and places as the Chairman may decide
and there shall at least be one meeting in each half year. Upon
the receipt of a written request signed by at least twenty percent
(20%) of the Executive Committee members, the Chairman must call
a meeting within two (2) weeks to discuss the matters raised in
the request.
8.10 The quorum of the Executive
Committee meeting shall consist of fifty (50%) of
the Executive Committee. Resolutions shall be adopted
by a simple majority of those present at the meeting. In the event
of equality of votes, the Chairman of the Meeting shall have a casting
vote but the Chairman shall abstain from casting its vote if the
matter on which it votes on conflicts with its personal
interest and if this situation
arises, the Chairman is required to declare its personal
interest at the start of the
Meeting. Upon the abstention of the Chairman, the
Vice-Chairman shall have a
casting vote.
9. Sub-Committees
9.1 Sub-Committees can be set up
from time to time to carry out the objectives of the Association
and can be dismissed upon approval of the Executive Committee.
9.2 Sub-Committees shall comprise
of members appointed by the Executive Committee and headed by a
chairman appointed by the Executive Committee;
9.3 All chairmen of the Sub-Committees
shall submit report of their activities to the Executive Committee.
10. Dissolution of the Association
The Association shall be dissolved
at the General Meetings or Extraordinary General Meetings upon approval
of two thirds (2/3) of all members present either in person or by
proxy at the Meetings.
11. Amendment of the Membership
Rules
Notices of amendments of the Membership
Rules must be sent to all members at least one calendar month before
the date of the General Meeting at which such amendments will be
considered. Any amendment of the Membership Rules shall require
the approval of at least two thirds of the members present at the
General Meetings.
12. Applicable Laws
The Membership Rules are construed
in accordance with the laws of Hong Kong. Any dispute arising hereof
shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Hong Kong
courts.
December, 1997
|