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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Members' Interests

The Committee on Members' Interests considers matters pertaining to members' declaration of interests and matters of ethics in relation to their conduct. It is also empowered to investigate complaints regarding members' registration and declaration of interests, and make recommendations to the council relating to matters concerning members' interests. The committee examines arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests. The committee comprises seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.

House Committee

The House Committee consists of all members except the President. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the committee are elected by the members of the House Committee. The committee normally meets on Friday afternoons and is responsible for dealing with matters related to the work of the Legislative Council and preparing members for council meetings. It decides whether bills committees or subcommittees should be formed to scrutinise bills and subsidiary legislation that have been introduced into the Legislative Council.

The House Committee also holds special meetings to discuss issues of public concern. During the session under review, the committee held two special meetings to discuss the Hong Kong Disneyland project.

Committee on Rules of Procedure

The Committee on Rules of Procedure is responsible for reviewing the Rules of Procedure of the Council and its committees, and proposing to the council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary. The committee consists of 12 members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with an election procedure determined by the House Committee.

During the session under review, the committee held six meetings and deliberated on a wide range of subjects, including procedures relating to the implementation of specific provisions in the Basic Law and the refinement of the current procedures to ensure smooth conduct of council business. In particular, the committee examined in detail the procedural arrangements for dealing with a bill returned by the Chief Executive to the council for reconsideration under Article 49 of the Basic Law, and a budget presented to the council after consensus had been reached following the refusal of the council to pass the original budget under Article 50. The committee also studied the application of the rule of anticipation to council business and re-examined the rules of speaking during debates.

Bills Committees

Any member, other than the President, may join a bills committee formed by the House Committee to consider the principles and merits of a bill allocated to it for scrutiny. It may also consider the bill's detailed provisions and propose amendments relevant to the bill. A bills committee usually tables a report in council after it has completed its task. It is dissolved on the passage of the bill concerned through the Legislative Council or when the House Committee so decides. During the 1999-2000 session, the Legislative Council set up 31 bills committees to scrutinise bills.

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