TNAG-1439-FCO40-1923-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 148

(G) STANDING COMMITTEES. TWO STANDING COMMITTEES DEAL WITH PUBLIC

EXPENDITURE:

(k) FINANCE COMMITTEE.

THE

THIS CONSISTS OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY (CHAIRMAN), FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ONE OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBER, (AT PRESENT THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS) AND ALL 46 OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS ATTEND AS REQUIRED. #T MEETS IN PUBLIC TO SCRUTINISE PROPOSALS FOR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. HTS TWO SUB-COMMITTEES DEAL WITH PUBLIC WORKS AND ESTABLISHMENT (OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE).

(MD) PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. THIS CONSISTS OF A CHAIRMAN AND

SEX MEMBERS, ALL UNOFFICIALS. IT EXAMINESE AND REPORTS ON THE FINDINGS HN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL STATEMENTS OF ACCOUNT AND ON ANY MATTER RELATING TO THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES AND THE EXERCISE OF HINS POWERS' UNDER THE AUDIT ORDINANCE (CHAPTER

122).

(H) SELECT COMMITTEES. THESE MAY BE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER AND

REPORT UPON ISSUES AS DIRECTED BY THE PRESIDENT ON A PROPOSAL BY A MEMBER OF COUNCIL. THERE ARE AT PRESENT TWO #IN EXISTENCE: ONE ON COMPLEX COMMERCIAL CRIME AND ONE ON BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR. UNTIL NOW, THIS FUNTON HAS BEEN LARGELY CARRIED OUT BY AD HOC GROUPS OF MEMBERS OF LEGCO AND IN PART BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (UMELCO) (SEE PARAGRAPH 19). AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SELECT COMMITTEES MAY BE EXPECTED IN FUTURE.

(NJ) AS DISTINCT FROM THEIR ACTIVITIES QUA UMELCO, THE

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO HAVE FORMED AH HỌC GROUPS TO STUDY CURRENT POLICY #SSUES SUCH AS THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD REPORT, THE WHITE PAPER ON THE DRAFT HONG KONG (BRITISH NATIONALETY) ORDER, THE GREEN PAPER ON HOUSING SUBSIDY TO TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND SIMILAR SUBJECTS.

UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (UMELCO)

ACTIVITIES.

19. THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF BOTH COUNCILS (UMELCO) HAVE FOR MANY YEARS FUNCTIONED AS AN ENTITY. THEY HAVE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUILDING, THEIR OWN OFFICES AND STAFF, TO ASSIST THEM IN STUDYING COURSES OF ACTION PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND IN RECEIVING REPRESENTATIONS FROM PUBLIC GROUPS AND MEMBRS OF THE PUBLIC.

20. UMELCO HAS FOR THE 1985 SESSION FORMED 21 PANELS, WHICH MEETS REGULARLY WITH SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO COVER PROGRAMME AREAS, SUCH AS EDUCATION, MANPOWER, HEALTH, WELFARE, THE CIVIL SERVICE, HOUSING, TRADE, NDUSTRY, TRANSPORT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS.

21. THE NEW STYLE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND INCREASING PUBLIC

Secret

INTEREST