TNAG-0525-FCO40-620-Visit-of-UK-Members-of-Parliament-(Defence-and-External-Affa-1975 — Page 58

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territory such as Hong Kong.

Parliament seldom legislates

for dependent territories except where legislation is beyond the power of the local legislature, where the subject is of concern to more than one country and uniformity is desirable, and where the subject is an important one and not merely of a domestic nature e.g. matters such as defence, air navigation, treaties etc. When Parliament legislates for Hong Kong it is usually applied to Hong Kong by an Order in Council.

The second main function of the Legislative Council

These is the control of the expenditure of public funds. financial powers derive from its legislative powers, in that no expenditure can be authorised without specific inclusion in an Appropriation Bill, (which authorises the estimated expenditure of the Government for the next financial year) or a Supplementary Appropriation Bill (which authorises expenditure additional to that approved by the Appropriation

Bill).

The Standing Orders of the Legislative Council provide for a Finance Committee, comprising three official members (the Colonial Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Director of Public works) and all fifteen unofficial members, to advise the Legislative Council as to the expenditure of public funds. The Finance Committee has established two sub-committees: a Public Works Sub-Committee and an Establish-

ment Sub-Committee. These two Sub-Committees examine all

proposals for expenditure on public works and on staff

make recommendations to the Finance Committee. Committee are advisory bodies which report to the Finance

Committee.

The Sub-

They themselves have no power of decision.

and