Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017

Chapter 3 Committees Chapter 3 Committees Members perform the functions of scrutinizing bills and subsidiary legislation, examining and approving public expenditure and monitoring the work of the Government through a committee system. There are three standing committees of the Legislative Council, namely the Finance Committee, the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Members' Interests. Standing committees, by virtue of section 9(1) of the Legislative Council (Powers and Privileges) Ordinance (Cap. 382), may order any person to give evidence, while all other committees may also have this power, where so authorized by the Council, under section 9(2) of Cap. 382. There are other committees of a standing nature with specific functions stipulated in the Rules of Procedure ("RoP"), namely the Committee on Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Access to the Legislature's Documents and Records, the House Committee and Panels. The Committee on Rules of Procedure reviews RoP of the Council and the committee system and proposes to the Council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary. The Committee on Access to the Legislature's Documents and Records determines whether a document or record of the Legislature (or its committee) should be made available for access earlier than the expiry of the closure period specified in the Policy on Access to the Legislature's Documents and Records. TheHouse Committee considers anymatters relating to the business of the Council and monitors progress made in studying bills and subsidiary legislation. Bills and subsidiary legislation that requiremore in-depth study are scrutinized respectively by Bills Committees and subcommittees, and these committees would report their deliberations to the House Committee. The committees thatmonitor andexaminepolicy issues are calledPanels. There are currently 18 Panels, the formation and terms of reference of which were approved by the Council on the recommendation of the House Committee. Apart from the above, an investigation committee may be established under RoP 49B(2A) (Disqualification of Member from Office) upon the moving of a censure motion under RoP 49B(1A). After completing itswork, the investigation committee is required to report to the Council and is dissolved after tabling of its report. Select committees may be appointed by the Council for in-depth consideration of matters or bills. In addition, a petition presented to the Council will be referred to a select committee under RoP 20(6) if the request for the petition to be referred is supported by not less than 20 Members. As soon as a select committee has completed consideration of thematter or bill referred to it, it reports to the Council and is thereupon dissolved. Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017 35 34 Legislative Council Annual Report 2016-2017