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supplementary questions and answers to the subject officer of the Branch concerned with a standard minute, as in Appendix II.

Practice

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Answers to questions should be kept crisp and concise. The objective is to provide information on a subject and not a general theory dilating on its whys and wherefores. There are occasions on which a broad statement of policy, or a detailed history of a subject, are required. Generally, however, the object should be to make a brief reply, supplying the information sought by the question, and not to reply to a bost of other questions which are not included or implied in the question put.

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It is not the right approach to try to be comprehensive So as to pre-empt supplementaries, which should be anticipated only in the sense that the Official Member should have the necessary information ready so that he can given a spontaneous reply.

reply. If an answer to a supplementary strays beyond the permitted limits the President should be invited to disallow it or invite the questioner to ask it

it at another meeting (Standing Order 19(4)).

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Questions are sometimes planted by Officials. This is acceptable in So far as it provides a useful channel for the airing of an official view, and so long as the rules on brevity are kept. Nevertheless this is a device to be used with great discretion. Questions should not be planted in order to make long speeches or narratives, since that leaves little room for spontaneity and runs contrary to

to the purpose and spirit of Question

Time.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Introduction

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The Finance Committee is a standing committee of the Legislative Council. It has two sub-committees, the Establishment Sub-Committee and the Public Works Sub-Committee.

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