第1163章详题
本条例旨在成立名为香港及东南亚正教会的法人团体，并就香港及东南亚正教会的组成、权力、责任及活动订定条文。
[1997年1月2日] 1996年第562号法律公告
(本为1996年第64号)
第1163章 第1条简称
(1)本条例可引称为《香港及东南亚正教会条例》。
(2)(已失时效而略去)
第1163章 第2条释义
在本条例中，除文意另有所指外─
“大教堂”(Cathedral Church) 指第10条所规定的“圣路加宣道者正教大教堂”；
“大教堂议会”(Cathedral Council) 指第10条所规定的大教堂的议会；
“行政委员会”(Executive Committee) 指第9条所规定的教区议会的委员；
“地域教区”(Metropolitan Archdiocese) 指根据第3条成立为法团的“香港及东南亚正教会”；
“财政年度”(financial year) 指每段于3月31日终结的12个月期间；
“教长”(Chancellor) 指如第8条所规定由教区大主教所指派的牧师；
“教区大主教”(Metropolitan) 指第7条所规定的地域教区的管理者；
“教区议会”(Metropolitan Council) 指第8条所规定的由牧师及平信徒所组成的团体；
“执业会计师”(certified public accountant (practising)) 具有《专业会计师条例》(第50章)给予该词的涵义。 (由2004年第23号第56条代替)
第1163章 第3条成立为法团
(1)地域教区是一个法人团体，其法团名称的中文名为“香港及东南亚正教会”，而英文名为“The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia”。
(2)地域教区─
(a)以其法团名义永久延续；
(b)备有并可使用印章；及
(c)可以其法团名义起诉和被起诉。
第1163章 第4条香港及东南亚正教会
(1)现于香港及东南亚区成立一个独立管理的地域教区。地域教区是受正教会总大主教领地的教条所管辖。
(2)香港是地域教区的教廷。“香港圣路加正教堂”是目前根据香港法律而成立的社团，由现在开始称为地域教区的大教堂并订名为“圣路加宣道者正教大教堂”。
(3)地域教区的教友是由所有在香港及东南亚国家居住并已受洗的正教基督徒所组成，他们全部构成教会的一个完整单位。
第1163章 第5条地域教区的目的
地域教区的使命是，在符合正教基督信仰及其教条下，对于正教信仰上各种灵性的需要作出回应，并到东南亚地区传扬正教信仰，在这前提下，地域教区须─
(a)负责正教信仰上灵性的薰陶，并通过各国所有合法和符合教条的方式以保存及传扬正教灵性上的承袭；
(b)在正教祟拜及圣洁的生命中寻求所有需要的途径及条件以便经常参与所有正教信仰；
(c)与当地其他基督教会及宗教合作，协助及推动其牧区参与所有符合公众利益的社会活动。
第1163章 第6条地域教区的权力
为了履行地域教区灵性使命并支持地域教区及其牧区的修道院，地域教区可─
(a)恒常为地域教区的利益而取得、持有及管理从捐献及所有其他合法来源及途径、遗赠、购买、投资、证券、基金、股票或任何政府的债券所获得的土地及其他财产；
(b)寻求并订立任何及所有法律所容许的合法合同，其条件则为此等合同有助于达到地域教区目前或长远的目的；
(c)为地域教区及其牧区的利益，持有、保护、发展及管理于地域教区地区内属于正教牧区及其附属团体但以任何理由遗弃归予或遗赠予地域教区的财产及土地；
(d)在符合本条例的规定下，作出或容受法人团体一般可合法地作出或容受的作为或事情。
第1163章 第7条地域教区的管理
(1)教区大主教是地域教区的唯一管理者及灵性领袖。
(2)教区大主教是由康士坦堡正教会总大主教教区圣议会中选出。
(3)教区大主教在执行其职责时须符合神及神圣的规条并根据东正教会的规条及正教会总大主教的传统和惯例。
(4)当教区大主教不在其地区、生病或未能履行其管理及灵性责任时，地域教区的教长须代其履行一切所需职责。
(5)教区大主教主持教区议会及行政委员会。
第1163章 第8条教区议会
(1)教区议会是由下列委员所组成─
(a)教区大主教，他担任主席；
(b)教长，一位由教区大主教所指派的牧师，负责依照其指示及代其执行地域教区的日常事务；
(c)3名地域教区牧师；及
(d)6名平信徒。(2)教区议会的委员负责选出下列委员─
(a)英文秘书；
(b)中文秘书；
(c)司库；及
(d)助理司库。(3)第(1)(b)、(c)及(d)款所规定的教区议会的委员由教区大主教委任，任期2年，由每隔一年的9月1日开始。
(4)教区议会须每年召开两次由教区大主教主持的会议，而在特别情况下，教区议会须在教区大主教认为有需要时召开会议。当教区大主教不在时，由教长主持教区议会所有会议。
(5)教区议会管理所有不关乎由东正教会神及神圣规条中所规定纯属教区大主教灵性责任的事务，包括─
(a)为地域教区每年的事务编列收入及支出的财政预算；
(b)管理、处理及发展所有属于地域教区的土地及其他财产；
(c)决定关于协助地域教区现有的牧区及发展新牧区的事宜，并就适当的解决办法向教区大主教提出建议；
(d)按照地域教区的需要和为地域教区的利益而管理所有银行户口；
(e)在得到教区大主教的同意时，设立、修改和取消教区议会及地域教区牧区的所需的内部规条。(6)为免生疑问，根据第(5)款设立的规条不得视为附属法例。
第1163章 第9条行政委员会
(1)行政委员会是由担任主席的教区大主教出任及所有教区议会的委员所组成。
(2)行政委员会的职责是由教区议会所决定并由其在教区议会会议休会期间执行。
(3)行政委员会由教区大主教以主席身分召开。当教区大主教不在时，由教长负责主持所有行政委员会会议。 (由1997年第259号法律公告修订)
(4)除规例另有规定外，行政委员会可决定其本身的程序。
第1163章 第10条圣路加宣道者正教大教堂
(1) 圣路加宣道者正教大教堂为教区大主教的座堂。
(2) 大教堂的管理及日常操作由教区大主教指派由教长，1名由教区大主教委任的牧师及3名由教区议会挑选的平信徒所组成的大教堂议会负责。
(3) 大教堂议会须─
(a) 召开大教堂信仰全体会议；
(b) 收集所有款项(包括牧区管理及捐献)；
(c) 为大教堂备存所有财政纪录；
(d) 制定每年的财政预算及准备每年年终的财政报告；
(e) 每年将财政预算及财政报告交由大教堂议会为此目的而指派的执业会计师审计； (由2004年第23号第56条修订)
(f) 通知信仰全体会议一切灵性、慈善及适当的节目及活动；
(g) 统筹大教堂适当及符合教会规条的日常运作。
第1163章 第11条印章的使用
(1)地域教区的印章须由教区议会决定。印章的中间须有一个十字，内圈须刻有：“香港及东南亚正教会”及“The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia”，而外圈须有“正教会总大主教”及“Ecumenical Patriarchate”。
(2)地域教区的印章须由教区大主教及教区议会的两名秘书中其中一位签署认证。如教区大主教不在或如第 7(4) 条所规定而不能签署认证，印章须由作为其合法代表的教长及教区议会的两名秘书中其中一位签署认证。
第1163章 第12条帐目及审计
(1) 教区议会的行政委员会须安排为地域教区的所有财务往来备存恰当的帐目及纪录，并须在每一财政年度结束后于切实可行范围内，尽快安排为该财政年度拟备地域教区帐目的报表。
(2) 根据第(1)款拟备的帐目报表须包括一份收支帐及一份资产负债表。
(3) 教区议会的行政委员会须在每一财政年度结束后于切实可行范围内，尽快将为该年度拟备的帐目报表呈予一名执业会计师以供审计。 (由2004年第23号第56条修订)
(4) 该执业会计师须就帐目拟备一份报告，并须将报告送交教区议会的行政委员会以便呈交教区议会的委员。 (由2004年第23号第56条修订)
第1163章 第13条保留条文
附注：
具追溯力的适应化修订─见2000年第4号第3条
本条例的条文不影响亦不得当作影响中央或香港特别行政区政府根据《基本法》和其他法律的规定所享有的权利或任何政治团体或法人团体或任何其他人的权利，但本条例所述及者及经由、透过或藉他们提出申索者除外。
(由2000年第4号第3条修订)
【英文全文】Cap1163Longtitle
To set up a body corporate under the name of The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia and to provide for the constitution, powers, duties, work and activities of The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia.
(Enacted 1996)
[2 January 1997] L.N. 562 of 1996
(Originally 64 of 1996)
Cap 1163 s 1 Short title
(1) This Ordinance may be cited as The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia Ordinance.
(2) (Omitted as spent)
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 2 Interpretation
In this Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires-
'Cathedral Church' (大教堂) means the 'Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Luke the Evangelist' provided for under section 10;
'Cathedral Council' (大教堂议会) means the council of the Cathedral Church provided for under section 10;
'certified public accountant (practising)' (执业会计师) has the meaning assigned to it in the Professional Accountants Ordinance (Cap 50); (Replaced 23 of 2004 s. 56)
'Chancellor' (教长) means the clergyman appointed by the Metropolitan provided for under section 8;
'Executive Committee' (行政委员会) means the officers of the Metropolitan Council provided for under section 9;
'financial year' (财政年度) means each period of 12 months ending on 31 March;
'Metropolitan' (教区大主教) means the administrator of the Metropolitan Archdiocese provided for under section 7;
'Metropolitan Archdiocese' (地域教区) means 'The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia' incorporated under section 3;
'Metropolitan Council' (教区议会) means the body of individuals comprised of clergy and laity provided for under section 8. (Amended 23 of 2004 s. 56)
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 3 Incorporation
(1) The Metropolitan Archdiocese shall be a body corporate under the corporate name of 'The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia' in English and '香港及东南亚正教会' in Chinese.
(2) The Metropolitan Archdiocese-
(a) has perpetual succession under its corporate name;
(b) has and may use a seal; and
(c) is capable of suing and being sued in its corporate name.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 4 The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia
(1) An independently administered Metropolitan Archdiocese is established for the region of Hong Kong and South East Asia. The Metropolitan Archdiocese is under the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
(2) Hong Kong shall be the See of the Metropolitan Archdiocese. The 'Saint Luke Orthodox Church of Hong Kong' presently constituted in Hong Kong as a society under the laws of Hong Kong shall henceforth be known as the Cathedral Church of the Metropolitan Archdiocese under the title 'Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Luke the Evangelist'.
(3) All baptised Orthodox Christians residing in Hong Kong and all the countries of South East Asia shall constitute the membership of the Metropolitan Archdiocese. Together they comprise a complete ecclesiastical unit.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 5 Purposes of the Metropolitan Archdiocese
The mission of the Metropolitan Archdiocese shall be to respond to the various spiritual needs of the Orthodox faithful, in conformity with the Orthodox Christian faith and its canonical order, and to advance Orthodoxy within the broader region of South East Asia. Within this context the Metropolitan Archdiocese shall-
(a) concern itself with the necessary spiritual edification of the Orthodox faithful, through the use of all legal and canonical means in each country for the preservation and propagation of the Orthodox spiritual heritage;
(b) pursue all necessary means and conditions for the regular participation of all Orthodox faithful in the Liturgical and Sacramental life of the Orthodox Church;
(c) in cooperation with the other Christian Churches and religions in the region, assist and encourage its Parishes in pursuing all social activities intended for the common good.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 6 Powers of the Metropolitan Archdiocese
In order to accomplish its spiritual mission and in support of the ministry pursued by the Metropolitan Archdiocese and its Parishes, the Metropolitan Archdiocese may-
(a) acquire, hold and administer real and assumed property, received through donations and all other legal sources and means, estates, purchases, investments, stocks, funds, shares or securities of any government, always for the benefit of the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(b) pursue and enter into any and all legal contracts as permitted by law with the requirement that such contracts serve the immediate or long term purposes of the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(c) hold, care for, develop and administer, for the benefit of the Metropolitan Archdiocese and its Parishes any property and land, belonging to the Orthodox Parishes and affiliate organizations, within the region of the Metropolitan Archdiocese and for whatever reason abandoned or bequeathed to the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(d) subject to this Ordinance, do or suffer all such acts and things as bodies corporate may in general lawfully do or suffer.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 7 Administration of the Metropolitan Archdiocese
(1) The Metropolitan is the sole administrator and spiritual authority of the Metropolitan Archdiocese.
(2) The Metropolitan is elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
(3) The Metropolitan pursues all his duties accorded him by the Divine and Holy Canons and according to the canonical order of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the traditions and practices of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
(4) When the Metropolitan is absent from the region or ill or not able to perform his administrative and spiritual responsibilities, the Chancellor of the Metropolitan Archdiocese shall perform all necessary duties on his behalf.
(5) The Metropolitan presides over the Metropolitan Council and the Executive Committee.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 8 Metropolitan Council
(1) The Metropolitan Council is comprised of the following members-
(a) the Metropolitan, as Chairman;
(b) the Chancellor, a clergyman appointed by the Metropolitan to administer on his behalf and upon his direction the daily affairs of the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(c) 3 clergymen of the Metropolitan Archdiocese; and
(d) 6 lay persons.(2) The members of the Metropolitan Council shall elect the following officers-
(a) Secretary for English;
(b) Secretary for Chinese;
(c) Treasurer; and
(d) Assistant Treasurer.(3) The members of the Metropolitan Council as provided under subsection (1)(b), (c) and (d) shall be appointed by the Metropolitan for a 2 year period commencing on 1 September of every other year.
(4) The Metropolitan Council shall convene meetings 2 times every year under the chairmanship of the Metropolitan and on special occasions when the Metropolitan deems necessary. In the absence of the Metropolitan, the Chancellor shall chair all meetings of the Metropolitan Council.
(5) The Metropolitan Council administers all matters, not related to the strictly spiritual responsibilities of the Metropolitan, as defined by the Divine and Holy Canons of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which shall include-
(a) establishing a budget of income and expenses for the annual operations of the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(b) administering, handling and developing all real and assumed property belonging to the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(c) making decisions concerning any assistance to existing Parishes and the development of new Parishes for the Metropolitan Archdiocese, and to make recommendations to the Metropolitan concerning proper solutions;
(d) administering all bank accounts, according to the needs and for the benefit of the Metropolitan Archdiocese;
(e) establishing and amending and revoking necessary internal regulations for the Metropolitan Council and the Parishes of the Metropolitan Archdiocese with the consent of the Metropolitan.(6) For the avoidance of doubt, regulations established under subsection (5) are not to be regarded as subsidiary legislation.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 9 Executive Committee
(1) The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Metropolitan as Chairman and all the officers of the Metropolitan Council.
(2) The responsibilities of the Executive Committee are determined by the Metropolitan Council and are pursued during the interim period between meetings of the Metropolitan Council.
(3) The Executive Committee is convened by the Metropolitan as Chairman. In the absence of the Metropolitan, the Chancellor shall chair all meetings of the Executive Committee.
(4) Except as provided in the regulations, the Executive Committee may determine its own procedure.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 10 Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Luke the Evangelist
(1) The Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Luke the Evangelist shall be the See of the Metropolitan.
(2) The administration and daily operations of the Cathedral Church shall be assigned by the Metropolitan to a 'Cathedral Council', comprised of the Chancellor, 1 clergyman appointed by the Metropolitan and 3 lay persons selected by the Metropolitan Council.
(3) The 'Cathedral Council' shall-
(a) convene the General Assembly of the faithful of the Cathedral Church;
(b) collect all funds, including parish stewardship and donations;
(c) keep all financial records for the Cathedral Church;
(d) establish the annual budget and prepare the year-end financial statement;
(e) submit the budget and financial statement to yearly auditing by a certified public accountant (practising), appointed by the Cathedral Council for this purpose; (Amended 23 of 2004 s. 56)
(f) inform the General Assembly and the faithful concerning all spiritual, philanthropic and pertinent programs and activities;
(g) coordinate the proper and canonical ecclesiastical daily operation of the Cathedral Church.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 11 Use of seal
(1) The seal of the Metropolitan Archdiocese shall be determined by the Metropolitan Council. The seal shall have a cross in the center. The inner circle shall read: 'The Orthodox Metropolitanate of Hong Kong and South East Asia' and '香港及东南亚正教会', while the outer circle shall read: 'Ecumenical Patriarchate' and '正教会总大主教'.
(2) The seal of the Metropolitan Archdiocese shall be authenticated by the signatures of the Metropolitan and one of the two Secretaries of the Metropolitan Council. In the absence or unavailability of the Metropolitan as provided for under section 7(4), the seal shall be authenticated by the signatures of the Chancellor as his lawful representative and one of the two Secretaries of the Metropolitan Council.
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 12 Accounts and audit
(1) The Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council shall cause proper accounts and records to be kept of all the financial transactions of the Metropolitan Archdiocese and shall, as soon as is practicable upon the completion of the financial year, cause a statement of the accounts of the Metropolitan Archdiocese to be prepared for that financial year.
(2) A statement of accounts prepared under subsection (1) must include an income and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
(3) The Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council shall, as soon as is practicable upon the completion of the financial year, submit the statement of the accounts prepared for that year to a certified public accountant (practising) for audit. (Amended 23 of 2004 s. 56)
(4) The certified public accountant (practising) shall prepare a report on the accounts and send the report to the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Council to be presented to the members of the Metropolitan Council. (Amended 23 of 2004 s. 56)
(Enacted 1996)
Cap 1163 s 13 Savings
Remarks:
Adaptation amendments retroactively made - see 4 of 2000 s. 3
Nothing in this Ordinance shall affect or be deemed to affect the rights of the Central Authorities or the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region under the Basic Law and other laws, or the rights of any body politic or corporate or of any other persons except such as are mentioned in this Ordinance and those claiming by, from or under them.
(Enacted 1996. Amended 4 of 2000 s. 3)