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Constitution and Administration
government. The committee also holds special meetings to examine the annual Estimates of Expenditure presented by the Financial Secretary to the Legislative Council during the proceedings related to the Appropriation Bill, which sets out the government's expenditure proposals for the following financial year.
The Finance Committee's two subcommittees, the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee, also meet 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 civil service grades and ranks.
The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the government's proposals to upgrade capital works projects to, or downgrade them from, Category A of the Public Works Programme, or concerning changes to the scope of, and approved estimates for, Category A projects.
During the 2012-2013 session, the Finance Committee held 46 meetings, including eight special meetings, comprising 20 sessions, to examine the Estimates of Expenditure. The committee approved 106 financial proposals, including 20 staffing proposals and 45 capital works projects. recommended by its two subcommittees.
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 preparations 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 2012-2013 session, the House Committee held 37 meetings, including three 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, representatives of public organisations or any other persons to attend public hearings to give explanations, evidence or information in the performance of the committee's duties. The seven members of the committee are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the House Committee.
During the 2012-2013 session, the committee held 18 public hearings and 26 internal meetings and examined the Director of Audit's report on the government's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 and the reports on the results of value for money audits (reports numbers 59 and 60). The committee's conclusions and recommendations are contained in the committee's reports numbers 59 and 60, which were tabled in the Legislative Council on 6 February 2013
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