1
Constitution and Administration
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of all members of the Legislative Council except the President. The committee's Chairman and Deputy Chairman 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 Estimates 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 2011-2012 session, the Finance Committee held 49 meetings (including seven special meetings to examine the Estimates of Expenditure 2012-2013) and examined 73 items, including 15 items which had been considered and supported by its two subcommittees.
The Finance Committee held 20 meetings between 15 June and 6 July to consider proposals relating to the reorganisation of the Government Secretariat but no decision was reached before the Legislative Council prorogued.
There are two subcommittees under the Finance Committee: the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee, which also conduct meetings in public. Membership of both is 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 2011-2012 session, the subcommittee held 10 meetings and examined 24 staffing proposals from the Government.
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 2011-2012 session, the subcommittee held 10 meetings and examined 58 public works proposals by the Government.
House Committee
The House Committee consists of all members except the President and normally meets on Friday afternoons. It is responsible for dealing with matters related to the work of the Legislative Council and making preparation for council meetings. It decides whether bills committees or subcommittees should be formed to scrutinise bills, subsidiary legislation and other instruments made under an ordinance. During the 2011-2012 session, the House Committee held 34 meetings, including two special meetings with the Chief Secretary for Administration to discuss issues of public concern.
Public Accounts Committee
The Public Accounts Committee considers the Director of Audit's reports on the Government's accounts and the results of the director's value-for-money audits of government departments and other organisations that are within the purview of public audit. It may invite government officials, public organisations or any other persons to attend public hearings to give