ENG-2014 — Page 34

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Constitution and Administration

During the 2013-2014 session, the House Committee set up 25 bills committees, in addition to nine set up in the previous session which continued in operation during the 2013-2014 session.

Subcommittees on Subsidiary Legislation

During the 2013-2014 session, the House Committee formed 28 subcommittees to consider 34 items of subsidiary legislation and five proposed resolutions presented by the government for the council's approval.

Other Subcommittees

The House Committee may also appoint subcommittees to assist its consideration of policy issues and any other matters relating to the council's business. Two subcommittees appointed in the previous session continued in operation during the 2013-2014 session and another was appointed in July 2014 to prepare for the operation of the select committee established pursuant to the referral of a petition presented at the council meeting of 25 June 2014.

Panels

The Legislative Council has established 18 panels to monitor and examine the government's policies and issues of public concern that relate to their respective policy areas. These panels also give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their introduction into the Legislative Council or the Finance Committee and examine relevant policy matters. Panels may appoint subcommittees or joint subcommittees to study specific issues and to report to the panels. During the 2013-2014 session, two such subcommittees were set up under panels. Of the 11 subcommittees set up under panels during the 2012-2013 session, four had completed their work and seven were still in operation by the end of the 2013-2014 session.

Select Committees

The Legislative Council may appoint select committees to enable members to consider matters or bills. Select committees report to the council after they have completed the consideration of such matters or bills. A Select Committee formed in 2013 to inquire into matters relating to Mr Timothy Tong when he was serving as Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption submitted its report to the council on 9 July 2014.

A select committee was formed in 2014 to inquire into the delay to the construction of the Hong Kong section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link.

Redress System

The Legislative Council operates a system which enables members of the public to seek assistance for redress of grievances resulting from government actions or policies. The redress system also deals with public representations on government policies and legislation as well as other matters of public concern. In groups of seven, members take turns to be on duty each week to oversee the redress system and to receive representations and complaints made by deputations. Members also take turns to be on 'ward duty' at the Public Complaints Office during their duty week to meet with individual complainants and give guidance to the Public Complaints Office on the processing of cases.

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