CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
procedural matters, and 52 were for debate on a wide spectrum of issues of public
interest.
Besides transacting business at council meetings, Members of the Legislative Council also perform other important duties including scrutinising bills, controlling public expenditure and monitoring the work of the Government through a system of committees. There are three standing committees, namely the Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Members' Interests. The Legislative Council also has a House Committee, a Committee on Rules of Procedure and 18 panels. Bills committees are formed on a need basis to examine bills introduced into the council.
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of all Members of the Legislative Council except the President. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the committee are elected from among its members. The committee normally meets in public on Friday afternoons to scrutinise and approve public expenditure proposals put forward by the Government. Its work includes the scrutiny of the annual Budget presented by the Financial Secretary to the Legislative Council in the form of an Appropriation Bill, which sets out the Government's annual expenditure proposals for the following financial year. During the 2000-2001 session, the committee held 19 meetings and examined a total of 77 financial proposals.
Two subcommittees have been set up under the Finance Committee. They are the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee, both of which also conduct meetings in public. Their respective memberships are open to all members of the Finance Committee.
The Establishment Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's proposals for the creation, redeployment and deletion of directorate posts, and for changes to the structure of grades and ranks in the Civil Service. During the 2000-2001 session, the subcommittee held 10 meetings and examined a total of 43 proposals put forward by the Administration.
The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's expenditure proposals under the Capital Works Reserve Fund for projects in the Public Works Programme and building projects carried out by or on behalf of subvented organisations. During the 2000-2001 session, the subcommittee held 21 meetings and examined a total of 102 proposals put forward by the Administration.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) considers reports of the Director of Audit on the accounts and the results of value-for-money audits of the Government and other organisations that are within the purview of public audit. It may invite government officials and staff of public organisations to attend public hearings to give explanations, evidence or information, or any other persons to assist it in relation to such explanations, evidence or information. The PAC's seven members are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.
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