NOVELTY - A laminar lithium metal composite oxide powder has sulfur content of less than 0.1 %mass measured with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The ratio of the size of crystallites on the (003) face to the size of crystallites on the (110) face in the lithium metal composite oxide powder is 1-2.5. The ratio of the primary-particle area to secondary-particle area is 0.004-0.035, as determined from secondary particles of a size corresponding to D50 in a volumetric particle-size distribution obtained using laser diffraction/diffusion particle size distribution measurement.    USE - Laminar lithium metal composite oxide powder is used as active material for forming positive electrode of lithium secondary battery (all claimed) mounted in electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle. Uses include but are not limited to domestic electrical appliance, video camera, notebook computer and mobile telephone.    ADVANTAGE - The battery containing the electrode has excellent initial charge/discharge efficiency, while capable of effectively lowering initial resistance.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A laminar lithium metal composite oxide powder has sulfur content of less than 0.1 %mass measured with inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer. The ratio of the size of crystallites on the (003) face to the size of crystallites on the (110) face in the lithium metal composite oxide powder is 1-2.5 calculated with Scherrer's equation using an X-ray diffraction pattern using copper K- alpha rays. The ratio of the primary-particle area to the secondary-particle area is 0.004-0.035, as determined from secondary particles of a size corresponding to D50 in a volumetric particle-size distribution obtained using laser diffraction/diffusion particle size distribution measurement. The measuring method of secondary particle area is carried out by observing lithium metal complex oxide powder with an electron microscope, selecting five secondary particles of size corresponding to D50 at random, and an calculating area by making length of the particles into diameter ( mu m) in a spherical case. The average value of the area of five samples is calculated as secondary particle area ( mu m2). The measuring method of primary particle area is carried out by observing lithium metal complex oxide powder with an electron microscope, selecting five secondary particles per view at random, selecting primary particles from selected five secondary particles at random, calculating area by making the longest portion of the grain-boundary space into length ( mu m) and by making the shortest portion of the grain-boundary space into a shorter axis ( mu m) when primary particles are rod shaped, and calculating area of primary particles by making length of the grain-boundary space into diameter ( mu m) in a spherical case. The average value of the area of 50 samples is calculated as a primary-particle area ( mu m2). INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) manufacture of lithium metal complex oxide powder;    (2) lithium secondary battery, which is equipped with lithium metal complex oxide powder as positive electrode active material; and    (3) hybrid electric vehicles.