King to close Tongan Legislature on November 1 [1]
Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 20:52. Updated on Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 19:40.
HM King George Tupou V will officially close the 2007 session of the Tongan Legislature on Thursday, November 1 at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall, Nuku'alofa.
Tevita 'Ova the Chief Clerk of the House said today that the House, which resumed yesterday Monday October 29 since being adjourned in September, deliberated on the king's wish for the house to close down on November 1, and after that they ended the 2007 session.
The Chief Clerk said in regards to the issue of reform it remains set for 2010, while other issues will be discussed in next year's session.
This is the normal closing time for the Tongan Legislature because it either closes in the first, second or the last week of November, he added.
The House, which had a month long adjournment since September due to the Forum Island Leaders Meeting, was set to resume on October 25 but was adjourned again for a week because of the Tonga College 125th anniversary celebrations last week. It only resumed yesterday for one day in order to end the session for 2007.
The closing ceremony will be held at 10:30 am on November 1 and the public is free to attend but will have to first pick up invitation cards at the Tongan Legislature's office.
Traditionally, to mark the closing of Parliament high school students from throughout Tongatapu will march in central Nuku'alofa.