CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
Members' Interests. The Committee on Members' Interests has seven members, who are appointed by the PLC President.
Committee on Rules of Procedure
The Committee on Rules of Procedure reviews the Rules of Procedure of the council and its committees and proposes amendments or changes as considered necessary. The committee comprises 12 members appointed by the PLC President.
House Committee
The House Committee consists of all members except the President. Its Chairman and Deputy Chairman are elected by the members. It is responsible for dealing with matters relevant to the work of the PLC and prepares members for the full council meetings. It also decides whether bills committees or subcommittees should be formed as appropriate to study bills and subsidiary legislation which have been introduced into the PLC.
Bills Committee
Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee to consider the principles and merits of a bill allocated to it for scrutiny. It may also consider the bill's detailed provisions and any amendments relevant to the bill. A bills committee tables a report in council after it has completed its task. It is dissolved as soon as the bill it has considered passes through the PLC or when the House Committee so decides.
Panels
The PLC has 18 panels which deliberate on issues relating to specific policy areas raised in the Chief Executive's Policy Address. These panels also give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their formal introduction into the Council or Finance Committee, as well as examine important issues of wide public concern as referred by the Council, House Committee or as raised by the panels themselves.
Select Committee
The PLC may appoint select committees to consider matters or scrutinise bills in depth. The purpose is to let small groups of members examine complex problems and report their findings and recommendations to the council.
Redress System
PLC members operate a redress system for members of the public who may have been aggrieved by government actions or policies. Under the system, members of the public may lodge complaints against government departments and request members' assistance in their dealings with the government.
Members of the PLC, in groups of five or six, take turns to be on duty weekly to oversee the system and to receive petitions and representations. They also take turns to be on 'ward duty' during their duty week to meet individual complainants and to give on-the-spot guidance to staff in processing cases.
香港中央圖書館
HONG KONG CENTRAL LIBRARY
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