J
CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
12
Committee on Members' Interests
The Committee on Members' Interests considers matters pertaining to members' declaration of interests and matters of ethics in relation to their conduct. It investigates complaints regarding members' registration and declaration of interests, and makes recommendations to the council relating to matters concerning members' interests. The committee examines arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests. Its seven members are elected in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee and appointed by the President of the Council.
During the 1998-99 legislative session, the committee compiled a set of advisory guidelines on matters of ethics in relation to the conduct of members and determined the procedure for handling complaints received on the registration and declaration of members' interests.
House Committee
The House Committee consists of all members except the President. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee are elected by and from among the members of the House Committee. It normally meets on Friday afternoons and is responsible for dealing with matters related to the work of the Legislative Council and preparing members for council meetings. It decides whether bills committees or subcommittees should be formed to scrutinise bills and subsidiary legislation which have been introduced into the Legislative Council. It also receives special briefings by the administration on major issues of public concern.
Committee on Rules of Procedure
The Committee on Rules of Procedure is responsible for reviewing the Rules of Procedure of the council and its committees, and proposing to the council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary. It consists of 12 members who are elected in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee and appointed by the President of the Council.
During the 1998-99 legislative session, the committee held 25 meetings and deliberated on a wide range of subjects, including procedures relating to the implementation of specific provisions in the Basic Law and the refinement of the current procedures to ensure smooth conduct of council business. In particular, it examined in detail the council's voting procedures and the procedural arrangements for dealing with bills returned for reconsideration by the Chief Executive. The committee also drew up procedures for relieving a member of his/her duties under Article 79(6) and (7) of the Basic Law.
Bills Committees
Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee formed by the House 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 propose relevant amendments. A bills committee usually tables a report in council after it has completed its task. It is dissolved upon the passage of the bill concerned through the Legislative Council or when the House Committee so decides. During the 1998–99 session, the Legislative Council set up 53 bills committees to scrutinise bills introduced into the council.