CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
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relevant standing order being appropriately amended, all regular meetings will also be held in public with effect from March 1985. The Finance Committee has two sub-committees, the Establishment Sub-Committee and the Public Works Sub-Committee.
The Public Works Sub-Committee consists of the Financial Secretary (Chairman), the Secretary for Lands and Works and 17 unofficial members of the Legislative Council. It reviews the progress and priority of capital works in the Public Works Programme, and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on proposals for changes to the programme.
The Establishment Sub-Committee consists of 13 unofficial members of the Legislative Council, one of whom is the chairman, the Secretary for the Civil Service and the Deputy Financial Secretary. It examines in detail staffing proposals for directorate posts and for the creation of new ranks or changes in salary scales, and makes recommendations on them to the Finance Committee. It also examines reports on the establishments of departments.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee, established by resolution of the Legislative Council on May 10, 1978, is a standing committee of the Legislative Council consisting of a chairman and six members, all of whom are unofficial members of the council. Its main function is to examine and report on the findings in the Director of Audit's report on the audit of the government's annual statements of account prepared by the Director of Accounting Services, and 'on any matter relating to the performance of his duties and the exercise of his powers' under the Audit Ordinance. The prime concerns of the committee are to see that public expenditure has not been incurred for purposes other than those for which the money was granted, that full value has been obtained for the sums expended, and that the administration has not been faulty or negligent in its conduct of financial affairs.
The Director of Audit's Report is tabled in the Legislative Council in November. The committee then meets in public and the controlling officers of different heads of expenditure give evidence on the different aspects of public expenditure covered in the Director of Audit's Report. The committee's report is laid on the table of the Legislative Council in January. The government's response to the report of the committee is contained in the government minute which describes the measures taken to give effect to the committee's recommendations or the reasons why acceptance of those recommendations is not considered appropriate. This minute is also laid on the table of the Legislative Council, within three months of the laying of the Public Accounts Committee's report each year.
UMELCO
Unofficial Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO), by taking part in the process of Government, play a significant role in the administration of Hong Kong. They advise on the formulation of government policies, participate in the enactment of legislation, monitor the effectiveness of public administration, and consider complaints by members of the public against government departments.
Activities of Unofficial Members include studying all Bills and major courses of action proposed by the government and receiving representations from public bodies or members of the public.
Unofficial Members have formed a total of 16 panels, which meet regularly with senior government officials to deal with different programme areas, such as education and manpower, health and welfare, the Civil Service, housing, trade and industry, transport and public relations. Issues and policies of importance are discussed at these meetings and may
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