TNAG-1073-FCO40-1323-Policy-of-the-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-including-1981 — Page 452

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The maximum potential membership of the Legislative Council

is 54, made up of 27 official members (including the Governor and four

ex-officio members: the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, the

Attorney General and the Secretary for Home Affairs) and 27 unofficial

members. The present actual membership is 22 official and 26 unofficial

members, thus leaving room for expansion within the approved maximum

when the need arises. All members except the Governor and other

ex-officio. members are appointed by the Queen or the Governor on the

instructions of the Secretary of State. The primary functions of the

Legislative Council are the enactment of legislation and control over

the expenditure of public funds. The Queen has the power to disallow

laws passed by the Council and assented to by the Governor.

council meets in public once every two weeks throughout the year,

except for a recess of about two months in August and September. A

wide-ranging debate on government policy follows the Governor's address

at the opening of the new session of the Council in October each year.

The Budget debate on financial and economic affairs takes place in

February and March each year during the second reading of the

Appropriation Bill.

The

3.

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consisting

The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council

of the Chief Secretary (chairman), the Financial Secretary, the

Director of Public Works and all the unofficial members of the

Legislative Council meets in private to scrutinise public

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expenditure, both at special meetings held in March (at which Members

examine the draft estimates of expenditure) and at regular meetings

held throughout the year to consider requests for financial commitments