Provisional Legislative Council
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The Provisional Legislative Council (Chinese: 臨時立法會, frequently abbreviated to 臨立會) was set up in 1996 by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to serve as a provisional legislature of Hong Kong, after the proposal package of electoral changes for the 1995 Legislative Council elections that was deemed unconstitutional by the PRC was passed in the Legislative Council. It was believed that the formation of the council according to the proposal by the government of Chris Patten, then governor, favoured pro-democracy candidates.
The 60-member Provisional Legislative Council was elected in 1996 by block vote by an electoral college handpicked by the PRC. It had its meetings in the city of Shenzhen across the border, until it replaced the Legislative Council upon the transfer of sovereignty.