ENG-2014 — Page 32

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Constitution and Administration

proceedings relating to the Appropriation Bill, which sets out the government's expenditure proposals for the following financial year.

The Finance Committee's two subcommittees, the Establishment Subcommittee and the Public Works Subcommittee, also meet 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 civil service grades and ranks.

The Public Works Subcommittee examines and makes recommendations to the Finance Committee on the government's proposals to upgrade capital works projects to, or downgrade them from, Category A of the Public Works Programme, or concerning changes to the scope of, and approved estimates for, Category A projects.

During the 2013-2014 session, the Finance Committee held 35 regular meetings, and eight special meetings comprising 20 sessions to examine the Estimates of Expenditure. The committee approved 65 agenda items, including eight items comprising 32 staffing proposals, and eight items comprising 21 capital works projects recommended by its two subcommittees.

Public Accounts Committee

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

During the 2013-2014 session, the committee held 14 public hearings and 20 internal meetings. It examined the Director of Audit's report on the government's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2013 and the reports on the results of value for money audits (reports numbers 60, 61 and 62). The committee's conclusions and recommendations are contained in the committee's reports numbers 60A, 61 and 62, which were tabled in the Legislative Council on 27 November 2013, 12 February 2014 and 9 July 2014 respectively. The Government Minutes in response to the three reports were tabled in the council on 19 February, 14 May and 22 October 2014 respectively.

Committee on Members' Interests

The Committee on Members' Interests consists of seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council in accordance with the election procedure determined by the House Committee. It considers complaints made in relation to members' registration and declaration of interests and in relation to members' claims for the reimbursement of operating expenses or applications for advances of operating funds. It also examines arrangements for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests, considers