XN000022-1984-02-27 — Page 5

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1984

FINANCE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN PUBLIC NEXT MONTH

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL CONDUCT ITS EXAMINATIONS OF GOVERNMENT BUDGET PROPOSALS IN PUBLIC FOR THE FIRST TIME AT FOUR SPECIAL MEETINGS NEXT MONTH.

CHANGES TO THE COUNCIL'S STANDING ORDERS WERE MADE LAST JULY, PAVING THE WAY FOR THIS IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT IN ITS HISTORY.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE TOP DECISION-MAKING BODY ON PUBLIC SPENDING, HAS THREE OFFICIAL MEMBERS: THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS. BUT IT IS ONLY THE LEGCO UNOFFICIALS WHO HAVE VOTING RIGHTS.

THE COUNCIL NOW HAS 29 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, THE LARGEST NUMBER EVER, ALL OF THEM SITTING ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS OVERSEERS OF PUBLIC SPENDING.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IS GOING TO PRESENT THE BUDGET ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 29), AND GEARING THEMSELVES FOR THE FORMIDABLE TASK OF SCRUTINISING THE VOLUMINOUS DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE. THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE FORMED THEMSELVES INTO FOUR STUDY TEAMS THIS YEAR TO DEAL WITH SOCIAL SERVICES; LAW AND ORDER ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND GENERAL SERVICES UNDER THE CONVENERSHIP OF DR THE HON HARRY FANG, THE HON T.S. LO, THE HON BILL BROWN AND THE HON S.L. CHEN RESPECTIVELY.

WHEN THE SWITCH FROM IN-CAMERA TO OPEN SESSIONS WAS ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID THE STEP WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO THE PUBLIC THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS ADMINISTERING GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

EVERY SUCH OFFICER WILL BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE UNOFFICIALS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON HIS DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET PROPOSALS.

IF THE PAST IS ANY GUIDE, CONTROLLING OFFICERS WILL BE BARRAGED WITH HUNDREDS OF QUESTIONS, VERBAL AND WRITTEN.

LAST YEAR, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS RAISED 366 POINTS OF QUERY AFTER A SERIES OF MEETINGS AT WHICH EACH OF THE 71 HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WAS CRITICALLY EXAMINED.

THESE POINTS WERE EITHER ANSWERED IN WRITING OR CLARIFIED BY CONTROLLING OFFICERS AT FOUR SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. A TOTAL OF 25 CONTROLLING OFFICERS APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND WERE CLOSELY QUESTIONED BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.

+THIS VERBAL GRILLING WILL NOW BE CARRIED OUT IN PUBLIC, A STEP THAT SHOULD HELP IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF AN OPEN GOVERNMENT, A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID.

THIS YEAR'S SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7, 8, 9 AND 12.

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