Proceedings
Any
the Council, which usually meets once a week in public. are bilingual and simultaneous interpretation is provided. member may introduce a Bill (except where it involves the raising of public revenue or the use of public funds), but in practice almost all Bills are presented by official members. They are subject to three readings and a committee stage. After being enacted, and receiving the Governor's assent, they are published as Ordinances. Each week non-official members of the Council address questions to the Government on a wide range of issues. These are answered by official members on behalf of the Administration. Other business of the Council includes motions on subsidiary legislation, statements and debates on policy (which may be debated on a motion or on the adjournment).
9. The Council has two standing committees which deal with public expenditure. The Finance Committe, which consists of the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary, one other official member and all 46 non-official members, scrutinizes all proposals for public expenditure. Its authority is specifically required for any changes made to the annual appropriations approved by the Legislative Council. The Public Accounts Committee, which consists of a Chairman and six members, all of whom are non-officials, examines and reports on the findings in the annual report of the Director of Audit, as well as on reports by the Director on value-for-money studies undertaken by him. Both Committees meet in public, although the Finance Committee pccasionally considers individual items in
camera.
OMELCO
10. The non-official members of the Executive and Legislative Councils have, for many years functioned as a separate entity with their own staff and offices the office of the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils (OMELCO). They have set up 16 specialist panels to monitor the policy and progress of work in the various areas of government activity, such as education, manpower, health, welfare, the civil service, transport, trade and industry
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