For discussion PWSC(96-97)91
on 22 January 1997

ITEM FOR PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE PROCEDURES

Members are invited to approve the proposed changes to the Public Works Subcommittee Procedures (the PWSC Procedures) for adoption with immediate effect upon endorsement by the Finance Committee.

PROBLEM

The current PWSC Procedures were adopted in April 1994. Changes have taken place since then in the way the Council and its committees conduct their business and amendments have been made in the Standing Orders to reflect these changes. The Finance Committee (FC) Procedures were revised at the FC meeting on 29 November 1996 to make the FC Procedures consistent with the Standing Orders, and there is a need to revise the procedures of its two Subcommittees, namely the Establishment Subcommittee and the PWSC accordingly.

PROPOSAL

2. In addition to some textual amendments and re-arrangement of paragraphs for better presentation and to enhance clarity, the following changes to the PWSC Procedures are proposed :

  1. the deletion of reference to non-official members with the abolition of ex-officio membership for the FC in October 1995;
  2. the expanded terms of reference of PWSC as endorsed by FC in June 1995;
  3. the provision of clearer guidelines on the arrangements for the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of PWSC;
  4. the inclusion of more specific guidelines in respect of the notice of agenda items, the conduct of meetings, amendment and withdrawal of proposals by the Administration, and the adjournment of proceedings.

3. Subject to members’ agreement, the revised PWSC Procedures, as set out in the Enclosure, will take immediate effect upon endorsement by FC.

JUSTIFICATION

4. Following a recent review of the procedures of the FC and its Subcommittees, the Legislative Council Secretariat has identified a number of changes that should be made to these procedures. The proposed changes were discussed by the Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of FC and its two Subcommittees at a meeting on 25 October 1996. Subsequently, FC considered and approved the revised FC Procedures on 29 November 1996. In endorsing the revised FC Procedures, members noted that suitable amendments would also be made to the procedures of its Subcommittees. The amendments are:

  1. With the abolition of ex-officio membership of the Legislative Council in October 1995, it is no longer necessary to differentiate between official and non-official members in the PWSC Procedures.
  2. The FC endorsed on 21 June 1995 that the terms of reference of the PWSC should be expanded to include capital subvention works projects funded under Head 708 of the Capital Works Reserve Fund. The new terms of reference are now incorporated in the PWSC Procedures.
  3. The procedure for the election of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of PWSC is amended in line with the revised FC Procedures. The amendment is to enable the election to be held at an open meeting, pursuant to FC’s decision on 3 October 1994, and to specify the timing of the election and who are entitled to vote.
  4. A new paragraph is added to specify that the Financial Secretary, the Secretary for the Treasury and the Deputy Secretary for the Treasury, being public officers designated by the Governor, may propose agenda items for the PWSC to reflect the arrangements within the Administration made under Standing Order 4B(2). A new paragraph is also inserted to reflect the Administration’s powers to amend or withdraw a financial proposal put to PWSC, in line with the arrangement specified in FC Procedures.
  5. Amendments in respect of the adjournment of proceedings are made in line with the revised FC Procedures endorsed on 29 November 1996.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5. This proposal does not involve any financial implications.

Legislative Council Secretariat
January 1997

Last Updated on 10 September 1998