ENG-2015 — Page 28

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Constitution and Administration

special meetings to examine annual Estimates of Expenditure presented by the Financial Secretary to the council during proceedings relating to the Appropriation Bill, which sets out the government's expenditure proposals for the following financial year.

The 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 to create, redeploy and delete directorate posts, and to change 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 2014-15 session, the Finance Committee held 74 regular meetings, and eight special meetings comprising 20 sessions to examine the Estimates of Expenditure. The committee approved 98 financial proposals, including 10 establishment proposals, and 63 public 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. The seven members of the committee are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council according to the election procedure determined by the House Committee.

During the 2014-15 session, the committee held 15 public hearings and 21 closed meetings. It examined the Director of Audit's report on the government's accounts for the year ended 31 March 2014 and the reports on the value-for-money audits (reports 63 and 64). The committee's conclusions and recommendations are contained in its reports 63, 63A and 64, which were tabled in the council on 11 February, 3 June and 8 July 2015 respectively. The Government Minutes in response to the three reports were tabled in the council on 20 May and 28 October 2015.

Committee on Members' Interests

The Committee on Members' Interests consists of seven members who are appointed by the President of the Legislative Council according to the election procedure determined by the House Committee. It considers complaints made in relation to council members' registrations, declarations of interests, claims for the reimbursement of operating expenses and applications for advances of operating funds. It also examines arrangements for the compilation,