CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION
members' registration and declaration of interests, and make 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. The committee comprises seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the House Committee. During the session under review, the committee held two meetings.
House Committee
The House Committee consists of all members except the President. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the committee are elected by the members of the House Committee. The committee 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. During the 2002-03 session, a total of 32 regular meetings of the House Committee were held.
The House Committee also holds special meetings to discuss issues of public concern. During the session under review, the committee held two special meetings to discuss with the Chief Secretary for Administration various 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 Legislative Council and its committees, and proposing to the council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary. The committee consists of 12 members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the House Committee. During the session under review, the committee held a total of seven meetings.
Bills Committees
Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee formed by the House Committee to consider the principles, general merits, and detailed provisions of a bill allocated to it for scrutiny. It may also propose amendments relevant to the bill. A bills committee usually tables a report in council after it has completed its task. It is dissolved on the passage of the bill concerned through the Legislative Council or when the House Committee so decides. During the 2002-03 session, the Legislative Council set up 30 bills committees to scrutinise bills introduced into the council, including the Betting Duty (Amendment) Bill 2003, Companies (Amendment) Bill 2002, Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2001, Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) Bill 2001, National Security (Legislative Provisions) Bill, and Village Representative Elections Bill.
Subcommittees on Subsidiary Legislation
During the 2002-03 session, 26 subcommittees were formed by the House Committee to consider 44 items of subsidiary legislation tabled in council, and seven proposed resolutions presented by the Government to the council for its approval.
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