ENG-1996 — Page 35

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

public. The Establishment Subcommittee examines the administration's proposals for the creation, redeployment and deletion of permanent and supernumerary posts remunerated from the directorate pay scales, the creation of directorate-level consultancy positions for periods lasting more than 12 months, and changes to the structure of civil service ranks and grades (including pay scales, new grades and new ranks). It makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on such proposals and reports to the Finance Committee on the size and cost of the civil service and the changes in departmental establishments.

The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the administration's proposals for the upgrading of projects to, or downgrading from Category A of the Public Works Programme, or changes to the scope and/or approved estimates of projects already in that category.

The Finance Committee may determine the functions of its subcommittees. In June 1996, it decided to expand the terms of reference of the Public Works Subcommittee to cover the examination of capital subvention works projects under the Capital Works Reserve Fund.

Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee's prime concern is to see that public funds are spent on the purposes for which they are granted, that full value is obtained for the sums expended, and that the government has not been faulty or negligent in its conduct of financial affairs.

The committee has a chairman and six members appointed by the President of the council. It examines the reports of the Director of Audit on the government's annual statements of accounts, and looks into matters relating to the performance of the Director of Audit's duties and value for money audits carried out by the Director.

In examining the issues raised in the Director of Audit's reports, the Public Accounts Committee may invite the controlling officers for certain heads of expenditure to its public hearings to give evidence. The committee's report, based on these hearings, is tabled in the Legislative Council within three months of the tabling of the Director of the Audit's report to which it relates.

The government's response to the committee's report is contained in a government minute, which describes the measures taken to give effect to the committee's recommendations or explains why these recommendations cannot be accepted. The government minute is also tabled in the Legislative Council, within three months of the tabling of the Public Accounts Committee's report.

Committee on Members' Interests

The Committee on Members' Interests has a chairman and six members. It examines the arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests. It also considers matters pertaining to the declaration of interests by council members and matters of ethics in relation to the conduct of members in their capacity as such, and makes recommendations on matters relating to members' interests.

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