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It can fairly be asked that if the power to call evidence is already provided elsewhere, why is it necessary to lay down the same power under this bill.
I think the answer to this question is two-fold. First, it would be preferable to tidy up and put together provisions on this council's powers and privileges scattered in different places so that the public as well as the future Members of this Council may have a better idea of what those powers and privileges are. Secondly, in view of the change of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997, we cannot simply rely on the practice in the UK House of Commons as provided in the Oaths and Declarations Ordinancee. We need to lay down now what exactly are those powers and privileges relating to
After all, 12 evidence and to build up our own tradition. years is not a long time.
Regarding the Finance Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, their power to call evidence is now governed by the Standing Orders.
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Standing Order 60 (9) says that the Finance Committee may call before them to give evidence the public officer responsible for the service or services provided under any head of the Estimates. According to Standing Order 60A (4), the Public Accounts Committee may call any public officer, or, the case of a report on the accounts of or relating to a non-Government organisation, any member or servant of that organisation, to give information or any explanation or to produce any records or documents which the Committee may require in the performance of their duties; and the Committee may also call any other person to assist the committee in relation to any such information, explanation, records or
documents.
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