CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
4
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 during the proceedings related to the Appropriation Bill, which sets out the Government's annual expenditure proposals for the following financial year. During the 2002-03 session, the committee held 18 meetings and examined a total of 70 financial proposals.
There are two subcommittees 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 2002-03 session, the subcommittee held nine meetings and examined a total of 19 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 2002-03 session, the subcommittee held 16 meetings and examined a total of 78 proposals put forward by the Administration.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee considers reports of the Director of Audit on the accounts of the Government and the results of his value-for-money audits of government departments 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 seven members of the committee are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the council's House Committee.
During the session under review, the committee examined the Director of Audit's Report on the Accounts of the Government of the HKSAR for the year ended March 31, 2002, and the Director's two Reports on the Results of Value for Money Audits. The committee held 11 public hearings and 29 internal meetings during the period. The conclusions and recommendations of the committee are contained in its Report Nos. 39 and 40 tabled in the Legislative Council on February 19 and July 9, 2003, respectively.
Committee on Members' Interests
The Committee on Members' Interests considers matters pertaining to the declaration of interests and matters of ethics in relation to the conduct of Members of the Legislative Council. It is also empowered to investigate complaints regarding