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Constitution and Administration
and 10 July 2013 respectively. The Government Minutes in response to the two reports were tabled in the council on 22 May 2013 and 23 October 2013 respectively.
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 committee system, and for proposing to the council any amendments or changes considered necessary. The committee consists of 12 members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.
During the 2012-2013 session, the committee held four meetings and studied a number of issues related to the procedural arrangements for council meetings and council committee procedures.
Committee on Members' Interests
The Committee on Members' Interests consists of seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the House Committee. It considers complaints made in relation to members' registration and declaration of interests and in relation to members' claims for the reimbursement of operating expenses or applications for advances of operating funds. It also examines arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests, considers matters of ethics in relation to members' conduct, and provides advice and issues guidelines on such matters.
During the 2012-2013 session, the committee held three open meetings to review the committee's complaints handling procedure; and to examine issues relating to members' disclosure of pecuniary interests under Rule 83A of the Rules of Procedure. The committee also followed up on its proposal of the last term to appoint a commissioner to receive and investigate complaints under the committee's remit. As the majority of members did not support the proposal during consultation, the committee did not pursue it further.
The committee also held five closed meetings to consider a complaint against a member in relation to allegations of his failure to register certain registrable interests with the Clerk to the Legislative Council, and the relevant report was presented at the Legislative Council meeting of 10 July 2013.
Bills Committees
Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee formed by the House Committee to consider the general merits and principles of a bill allocated for scrutiny. A bills committee may also consider the detailed provisions of, and amendments to, the bill. It usually tables a report in council and is dissolved on the passage of the bill or when the House Committee so decides.
During the 2012-2013 session, the House Committee set up 20 bills committees to scrutinise 20 bills introduced into the council.
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