ENG-1986 — Page 37

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

have been held in public since March 1985. The Finance Committee has two sub- committees, the Establishment Sub-Committee and the Public Works Sub-Committee.

The Establishment Sub-Committee consists of 27 members of the Legislative Council, one of whom is the Chairman, plus the Secretary for the Civil Service and the Deputy Financial Secretary, who are the only public servants on the committee. It examines in detail proposals for directorate posts, the creation of new ranks and changes in salary scales and makes recommendations on them to the Finance Committee. It also considers reports on value for money studies and reports to Finance Committee on changes in departmental establishments and on the size and cost of the Public Service.

The Public Works Sub-Committee consists of the Financial Secretary (Chairman), the Secretary for Lands and Works and 26 other members of the Legislative Council. It reviews the progress and priority of capital works in the Public Works Programme, and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on proposals for changes to the programme.

Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee, established by resolution of the Legislative Council on May 10, 1978, is a standing committee of the Legislative Council consisting of a chairman and six members, none of whom are official members of the council. Its main function is to examine and report on the findings in the Director of Audit's Report on the audit of the government's annual statements of account prepared by the Director of Accounting Services, and on any matter relating to the performance of his duties and the exercise of his powers under the Audit Ordinance. The prime concerns of the committee are to see that public expenditure has not been incurred for purposes other than those for which the money was granted, that full value has been obtained for the sums expended, and that the administration has not been faulty or negligent in its conduct of financial affairs.

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The Director of Audit's report is tabled in the Legislative Council in November. The committee then meets in public and the controlling officers of different heads of expenditure give evidence on the different aspects of public expenditure covered in the Director of Audit's report. The committee's report is laid on the table of the Legislative Council within three months of the laying of the Director of Audit's report. The government's response to the report of the committee is contained in the government minute, which describes the measures taken to give effect to the committee's recommendations or the reasons why acceptance of those recommendations is not considered appropriate. This minute is also laid on the table of the Legislative Council within three months of the laying of the Public Accounts Committee's report each year.

Select Committees

Two select committees were appointed by the Legislative Council in the 1985-6 session. One of them was given the task of considering measures to be taken to resolve the problems involved in the prosecution and trial of complex commercial crimes, including changes in the procedures before and during trial and mode of trial. The other was asked to consider the future administration of the Hong Kong War Memorial Fund, having regard to the relevant legislation, the interests of the beneficiaries of the fund and the public interest. The two select committees were dissolved in July 1986, after reporting their findings to the council.

OMELCO

OMELCO, which stands for Office of the Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils, is the office of the non-government members of the Executive and Legislative