Constitution and Administration 7
Other Subcommittees
The House Committee may also appoint subcommittees to assist its consideration of any other matters relating to the business of the council. In October 2008, the House Committee appointed a subcommittee to study issues arising from Lehman Brothers-related minibonds and structured financial products. A motion seeking authorisation for the subcommittee to exercise the powers conferred by section 9(1) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance for the purpose of performing its function was passed at the council meeting on November 12, 2008. The House Committee also appointed a subcommittee to examine the implementation in Hong Kong of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council in relation to sanctions and a subcommittee to study issues relating to Mainland- HKSAR families in November 2008 and January 2009 respectively.
Panels
The Legislative Council has established 18 panels to monitor and examine the Government's policies and issues of public concern that relate to their respective policy areas. These panels also give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their introduction into the Legislative Council or the Finance Committee and examine relevant policy matters referred to them.
Panels may appoint subcommittees or joint subcommittees to study specific issues and to report to the panels. During the 2008-2009 session, eight subcommittees have been set up under panels, including the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to Railways, Subcommittee on Police's Handling of Sex Workers and Searches of Detainees, Subcommittee on Improving Air Quality, Subcommittee on Harbourfront Planning, Subcommittee on Poverty Alleviation, Subcommittee on Combating Fly-tipping, Joint Subcommittee to Monitor the Implementation of the West Kowloon Cultural District Project and Joint Subcommittee on Amendments to Land Titles Ordinance.
Select Committees
The Legislative Council may appoint select committees to enable members to consider matters or bills. Select committees report to the council after they have completed consideration of such matters or bills. On December 10, 2008, the council appointed a select committee to inquire into the vetting and approval for Mr Leung Chin-man, former Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) and Director of Housing, to take up post-service work with New World China Land Limited and other real estate organisations, and whether there was any connection between such work and the major housing or land policies which Mr Leung had taken part in their formulation or execution and decisions which he had made pursuant to such policies while serving as the Director of Buildings, Permanent Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands (Housing) and Director of Housing, that had given rise to any potential or actual conflict of interest, as well as related matters. Between December 2008 and September 2009, the Select Committee held 21 public hearings to receive evidence from 24 witnesses. Based on the results of its inquiry, the Select Committee will make recommendations on the policies and