XN000022-1976-06-27 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 1976

DURING EACH ANNUAL SESSION, THERE ARE TWO OCCASIONS FOR GENERAL DEBATE. ONE IS THE DEBATE ON FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS IN FEBRUARY-MARCH DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL AND THE OTHER IS THE DEBATE ON SOCIAL PROGRESS AND GOVERNMENT POLICY IN GENERAL WHEN THE GOVERNOR REVIEWS THE AFFAIRS OF HONG KONG AT THE OPENING OF THE COUNCIL SESSION IN OCTOBER.

UNDER THE EXISTING STANDING ORDERS, THE COUNCIL MEETS IN PUBLIC ONCE EVERY ALTERNATE WEDNESDAY EXCEPT DURING THE ANNUAL RECESS BETWEEN AUGUST AND OCTOBER.

THE COUNCIL MAY, IN EACH SESSION, APPOINT ONE OR MORE SELECT COMMITTEES TO CONSIDER MATTERS OR BILLS OF PUBLIC INTEREST, AND EACH COMMITTEE IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REPORT OF ITS STUDY TO THE COUNCIL.

ALL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE MUST BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IN PRACTICE, PROPOSED ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED FIRST BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE -- A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETS ONCE A FORTNIGHT IN PRIVATE AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSIDERING ALL REQUESTS FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF FUNDS. ITS MEMBERS ARE THE COLONIAL SECRETARY (CHAIRMAN), THE FINANCIL SECRETARY, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

TO FACILITATE ITS WORK, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS SET UP TWO SUB-COMMITTEES THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE.

THE FIRST SUB-COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE SIX UNOFFICIALS AND ONE OFFICIAL - THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. ITS FUNCTION IS TO REVIEW THE PROGRAMME OF PUBLIC WORKS PRESENTED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE FINANCE BRANCH AND TO DECIDE ON THE PRIORITY OF PUBLIC WORKS ITEMS.

THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE CREATION OF NEW POSTS, STAFF INCREASES AND THE REGRADING OF EXISTING POSTS. IT IS MADE UP OF FIVE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, ONE OF WHOM IS THE CHAIRMAN, AND TWO GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, THE HISTORY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEGAN AS EARLY AS 1844. ÖNE INTERESTING POINT IS THAT UNDER THE OLD STANDING ORDERS, THE FIRST SESSION OF THE COUNCIL LASTED 124 YEARS UNTIL 1968. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE COUNCIL CONTINUED ITS MEETINGS YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH NC RECESS UNTIL 1958 WHEN THE STANDING ORDERS WERE REVISED TO ALLOW FOR AN ANNUAL BREAK,

AS A RESULT OF THIS CHANGE, THE SECOND COUNCIL SESSION BEGAN IN OCTOBER, 1969 AND SO THE CURRENT 1975-76 SESSION IS ONLY THE EIGHTH ONE IN THE COUNCIL RECORDS. THE INTRODUCTION OF AN ANNUAL RECESS FROM AUGUST TO OCTOBER PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COUNCIL TO TAKE STOCK OF ITS WORK, TO REVIEW THE PAST AND CONSIDER THE FUTURE.

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