ENG-2011 — Page 38

6 Constitution and Administration

expenses or applications for an advance of operating funds. The committee also held 18 closed meetings to consider complaints against several members.

At the council meeting on April 13, 2011, the committee presented a report on its deliberations on a complaint against a member in relation to his failure to register certain interests with the Clerk to the Legislative Council pursuant to Rule 83 of the Rules of Procedure. At the council meeting on June 22, 2011, the committee presented a report on its consideration of a complaint against three members. Two motions were moved at the council meeting on July 13, 2011, one was moved under Rule 85 of the Rules of Procedure to admonish one of the three members for failing to disclose the nature of his pecuniary interest in a matter before he spoke on the matter at several committee meetings pursuant to Rule 83A of the Rules of Procedure, and another on issues in relation to procedural rules on pecuniary interests was moved to enable members to express their views on these issues. Both motions were negatived.

House Committee

The House Committee, which consists of all members except the President, elects its Chairman and the Deputy Chairman. 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, subsidiary legislation and other instruments made under an ordinance. During the 2010-11 session, the House Committee held 30 regular meetings.

The House Committee also holds special meetings to discuss issues of public concern. During the 2010-11 session, the House Committee held two special meetings to discuss the population policy review and the National 12th Five-Year Plan with the Chief Secretary for Administration.

Committee on Rules of Procedure

The Committee on Rules of Procedure is responsible for reviewing the Rules of Procedure of the Legislative Council and the committee system, and for proposing to the council any amendments or changes 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 council's House Committee.

During the 2010-11 session, the committee held five meetings to study a number of issues related to the procedural arrangements for council meetings and council committee procedures.

On the recommendation of the committee, three motions were moved in council to amend the Rules of Procedure, two of which were passed and one was negatived. The two motions which were passed include a motion to amend Rule 58(2) of the Rules of Procedure to streamline the procedure for dealing with interdependent amendments to a bill during committee stage and a motion to amend Rules 44 and 45(2) to empower the chairman of any committee of the