XN000022-1985-03-31 — Page 13

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SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1985

APART FROM THE

ENACTMENT OF LEGISLATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL INCLUDES TWO MAJOR DEBATES IN EACH LEGISLATIVE SESSION A WIDE-RANGING DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT POLICY WHICH FOLLOWS THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SESSION OF THE COUNCIL IN OCTOBER EACH YEAR, AND THE BUDGET DEBATE ON FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC AFFAIRS WHICH TAKES PLACE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.

+QUESTIONS MAY ALSO BE ADDRESSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO THE GOVERNMENT RELATING TO PUBLIC ISSUES FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE, EITHER SEEKING INFORMATION ON SUCH ISSUES OR ASKING FOR OFFICIAL ACTION ON THEM, HE SAID,

OTHER BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL INCLUDES MOTIONS ON SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION, STATEMENTS AND POLICY PAPERS FOR DEBATE.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETS IN PUBLIC ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, EXCEPT FOR A RECESS OF ABOUT TWO MONTHS IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, PROCEEDINGS ARE BILINGUAL AND MEMBERS MAY ADDRESS THE COUNCIL IN ENGLISH OR CANTONESE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID ANOTHER CONSTITUTIONAL FUNCTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS TO CONTROL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, THROUGH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

+AT SPECIAL MEETINGS HELD IN MARCH AND AT REGULAR MEETINGS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WITH ALL 29 UNOFFICIALS AS MEMBERS BUT ONLY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS FROM THE OFFICIAL SIDE, SCRUTINISE ALL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND VOTE OR REFUSE FUNDS AS IT WILLS,+ HE SAID.

UNDER THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, THERE ARE THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE.

THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, INCLUDES THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS AND 18 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, REVIEWS THE PROGRESS AND PRIORITY OF CAPITAL WORKS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON PROPOSALS FOR CHANGES TO THE PROGRAMME.

THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF 13 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ONE OF WHOM IS THE CHAIRMAN, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY. IT EXAMINES STAFFING PROPOSALS FOR DIRECTORATE POSTS AND FOR THE CREATION OF NEW RANKS OR CHANGES IN SALARY SCALES IN DETAIL, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ON THEM TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. IT ALSO EXAMINES REPORTS ON THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF DEPARTMENTS.

THE LEGISLATIVA