ENG-2006 — Page 32

4 Constitution and Administration

remaining 16 items continued in the next session. In addition, the council completed the scrutiny of 18 items of subsidiary legislation, which had been tabled in the previous session. The Government proposed 22 resolutions through the positive vetting procedure to either make new or amend existing subsidiary legislation, and all were passed by the council.

Apart from those relating to subsidiary legislation, seven motions to amend the Rules of Procedure were passed. The council debated 55 members' motions with no legislative effect and three adjournment motions on issues concerning public interests during the 2005-06 legislative session.

Finance Committee

The Finance Committee consists of all members of the Legislative Council except the President. The Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the committee are elected from among its members. The committee normally meets in public on Friday afternoons to scrutinise and approve public expenditure proposals put forward by the Government. Its work includes the scrutiny of the annual Budget presented by the Financial Secretary to the Legislative Council during the proceedings related to the Appropriation Bill, which sets out the Government's annual expenditure proposals for the following financial year. During the 2005-06 session, the committee held 21 meetings and examined 43 financial proposals.

There are two subcommittees under the Finance Committee: the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee, which also conduct meetings in public. Membership of both is open to all members of the Finance Committee.

The Establishment Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's proposals for the creation, redeployment and deletion of directorate posts, and for changes to the structure of grades and ranks in the Civil Service. During the 2005-06 session, the subcommittee held six meetings and examined 20 proposals put forward by the Government.

The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the Government's expenditure proposals under the Capital Works Reserve Fund for projects in the Public Works Programme and building projects carried out by or on behalf of subvented organisations. During the 2005-06 session, the subcommittee held 12 meetings and examined 61 proposals, covering 60 projects and the Block Allocations for 2006-07 put forward by the Government.

Public Accounts Committee

The Public Accounts Committee considers reports of the Director of Audit on the accounts of the Government and the results of his value-for-money audits of government departments and other organisations that are within the purview of public audit. It may invite government officials, public organisations or any other persons to attend public hearings to give explanations, evidence or information. The seven members of the committee are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the council's House Committee.

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