TNAG-1357-FCO40-1798-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1985 — Page 14

-8-

vi)

Other Business

Other business includes motions on subsidiary

legislation, statements and policy papers (Green

Papers and White Papers) for debate. A complete

record of all papers laid before the Council together

with a verbatim record of proceedings (Hansard) is

maintained.

vii)

Standing Committees

The two Standing Committees both deal with

public expenditure:

a) Finance Committee

This consists of the Chief Secretary (Chairman),

the Financial Secretary, one other Official

Member, (at present the Secretary for Lands &

Works) and all 46 of the Unofficial Members.

It meets in public to scrutinise proposals for

public expenditure. In March each year members

examine the draft Estimates of Expenditure (Budget).

At fortnightly meetings through the year, they

consider requests for changes in annual provision,

and the financial implications of new policies.

The Finance Committee has two sub-committees:

The Public Works Sub-Committee reviews the

progress and priority of capital works in the

Public Works Programme, and makes recommendations

to the Finance Committee on proposals for

changes; the Establishment Sub-Committee examines

proposals for directorate level posts, the

creation of new ranks or changes in salary scales,

•

19