1
Constitution and Administration
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee consists of all council members except the President, with its Chairman and Deputy Chairman elected from among its members. The committee is responsible for scrutinising and approving public expenditure proposals put forward by the government as well as examining the annual Estimates of Expenditure presented by the Financial Secretary to the council during proceedings relating to the Appropriation Bill.
The committee appoints two subcommittees, the Establishment Subcommittee and Public Works Subcommittee, whose memberships are open to all members of the Finance Committee.
The Establishment Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the government's proposals to create, redeploy and delete directorate posts, and those that seek to change 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 about capital works projects.
In 2016-17, the Finance Committee held 64 meetings to scrutinise financial proposals, nine special meetings comprising 21 sessions to examine the Estimates of Expenditure and one meeting to receive the Financial Secretary's briefing on the Budget. The committee deliberated on and approved 35 financial proposals, namely 18 public works proposals costing $55.47 billion in total, six establishment proposals and 11 other funding proposals involving a total commitment of $17.65 billion.
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. The seven members of the committee are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council according to an election procedure determined by the House Committee.
In 2016-17, the committee held 11 public hearings and 18 closed meetings. It examined the Director of Audit's report on the government's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2016 and his reports on two value-for-money audits (Reports No 67 and 68). The committee gave its conclusions and recommendations in its Reports No 67, 67A and 68, which were tabled in council in February, April and July 2017 respectively. The Government Minutes in response to the three reports were tabled in council in May and October 2017. The committee will table its Supplemental Report No 68A in council in January 2018.
Committee on Members' Interests
The Committee on Members' Interests consists of seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council according to an election procedure determined by the House Committee. It considers complaints made in relation to (1) council members' registration and declaration of interests, and (2) members' claims for the reimbursement of operating