ENG-2000 — Page 40

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CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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introduced into the council, including the Broadcasting Bill, Building Management (Amendment) Bill 2000, District Court (Amendment) Bill 1999, Exchanges and Clearing Houses (Merger) Bill, Mass Transit Railway Bill and Urban Renewal Authority Bill.

Panels

The Legislative Council has established 18 panels to monitor and examine government policies. These panels also give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their introduction into the council or the Finance Committee, and examine important issues of wide public concern referred to them.

Select Committee

The Legislative Council may appoint select committees to enable members to consider matters or bills in depth. Select committees report their findings and recommendations to the council after they have completed their consideration of the matter or bill.

Redress System

The Legislative Council operates a redress system under which members of the public can seek assistance for any grievance resulting from implementation of government actions or policies and lodge complaints against government departments. The redress system operates on a weekly roster with groups of six Members of the Legislative Council taking turns to receive and handle complaints and representations from the public. They also take turns to be on 'ward duty' during their duty week to meet individual complainants and to give guidance to staff in processing cases.

The Legislative Council Commission and Secretariat

The Legislative Council Commission is a statutory body independent of the Government. It is chaired by the President of the Legislative Council and consists of 12 other members. The commission's main function is to provide support and services to the Legislative Council through the Legislative Council Secretariat. It is empowered to employ staff of the Legislative Council Secretariat and oversee its work, determine the organisation and administration of support services and facilities, formulate and execute policies on their effective operation and expend funds in ways it sees fit to support these activities.

The Legislative Council Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. It provides support services to the Legislative Council through:

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servicing of meetings of the Legislative Council and its committees including the provision of legal and research services;

facilitating communication with and among Members in relation to the business of the Legislative Council;

collating public views on the business of the Legislative Council; and promoting public understanding of the work of the Legislative Council.

District Administration

The District Administration Scheme commenced in 1982 with the establishment of a District Board and a District Management Committee in each district. Through the