Legislative Council

LC Paper No. CB(2) 2848/98-99

Ref: CB2/T/1

Paper for House Committee Meeting
on 24 September 1999

Reporting of work by Members elected to governing bodies of
education institutions and other advisory bodies


Purpose

This paper seeks Members' views on how Members elected to serve on the governing bodies of education institutions and other advisory bodies should report their work to Members.

Background

2. At the House Committee meetings on 23 April 1999 and 2 July 1999, the issue of reporting of work by Members elected to serve on the governing bodies of education institutions and other advisory bodies was raised. A Member requested that the House Committee should, at an appropriate time, discuss how the Members concerned should report their work.

3. Members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) are elected by and from among themselves to serve on the following governing bodies of education institutions and advisory bodies -

  1. Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee;

  2. Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board;

  3. Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board;

  4. Council of The Chinese University of Hong Kong;

  5. Court of the University of Hong Kong; and

  6. The English Schools Foundation.

The duties/terms of reference and composition of these organizations are detailed in the Appendix for Members' easy reference.

4. Elections for Members to serve on these organizations were held at the House Committee meetings on 10 July 1998, 23 October 1998 and 23 April 1999. The results of the elections were as follows -

OrganizationMembers Elected
(a) Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee Hon Mrs Sophie LEUNG LAU Yau-fun, JP
Hon LAU Chin-shek, JP
(b) Po Leung Kuk Advisory BoarHon David CHU Yu-lin
(c) Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory BoardHon Gary CHENG Kai-nam
(d) Council of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Hon James TIEN Pei-chun, JP
Hon CHEUNG Man-kwongHon CHAN Kam-lam
(e) The Court of the University of Hong Kong Hon James TO Kun-sun
Hon Mrs Selina CHOW LIANG Shuk-yee, JP
Hon YEUNG Yiu-chung
Hon LAU Chin-shek, JP
Hon Ambrose LAU Hon-chuen, JP
(f) The English Schools Foundation Hon Jasper TSANG Yok-sing, JP
Hon Ronald ARCULLI, JP


Reporting of Work

5. Members elected to serve on the above organizations by virtue of their being legislators provide a link between these organizations and the legislature of the day. It is proposed that the Members concerned should make at least one report on their work to the House Committee in a session, preferably towards the end, and such reports should contain the following information -

  1. important/special areas of work considered by the organization concerned; and

  2. other aspects of work which the Member may wish to highlight.

Advice Sought

6. Members' views are sought on the arrangement proposed in paragraph 5 above.


Legislative Council Secretariat
20 September 1999
g-adv


Appendix

Duties and Composition of Governing Bodies of
Education Institutions and Other Advisory Bodies



Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee

The Disaster Relief Fund was established on 1 December 1993 by resolution under the Public Finance Ordinance (Cap. 2) to provide a mechanism to enable the Hong Kong Administration to respond swiftly to international appeals for humanitarian aid. The resolution also provides for the appointment of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee by the Chief Executive to advise the Financial Secretary on disbursement from the Fund. The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee are in Annex I.

2. The Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration and comprises the Secretary for the Treasury, Secretary for Health and Welfare, two Members of the Executive Council and two Members of the Legislative Council. The Advisory Committee meets as and when required.

Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board

3. The Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board was established under the Po Leung Kuk Ordinance (Cap. 1040) to advise the Board of Directors on matters affecting the Kuk and its administration. The duties and composition of the Advisory Board, as provided under paragraph 18 of the Schedule to the Ordinance, are set out in Annex II. The Advisory Board consists of not more than 15 persons and the chairman is the Secretary for Home Affairs. In accordance with paragraph 18(2)(e), one person shall be nominated by Members of the Legislative Council from among their own number as an ex officio member of the Board.

4. As regards the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board, it was established under the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Ordinance (Cap. 1051) to advise the Board of Directors on matters affecting the Group and its administration. The duties and composition of the Advisory Board, as set out in paragraph 19 of the Schedule to the Ordinance, are detailed in Annex III. The Advisory Board consists of not more than 14 persons and the chairman is also the Secretary for Home Affairs. As provided in paragraph 19(2)(c), one person shall be nominated by Members of the Legislative Council from among their own number as an ex officio member of the Board.

5. Most business of the two Advisory Boards is carried out by means of circulation of papers but meetings may be convened as and when necessary. The Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board holds an annual joint meeting with the Kuk's Board of Directors in March each year. There is no such arrangement for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board.

Council of The Chinese University of Hong Kong

6. Under Statute 11 of The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap. 1109), the University Council shall consist of, among others, three persons elected by Members of the Legislative Council from among their own number. The term of office is for three years. A Member will cease to hold office if he or she ceases to be a Member of the Legislative Council during the three-year term. The Council meets four to five times a year. The composition, power and duties of the University Council, as provided in subparagraphs 1 and 8 of Statute 11, are set out in Annex IV.

Court of the University of Hong Kong

7. Under Statute XV of the University of Hong Kong Ordinance (Cap.1053), the University Court shall consist of , among others, five persons elected by Members of the Legislative Council from among their own number. The term of office is for three years. A Member shall be deemed to have resigned from the Court if he or she ceases to be a Legislative Council Member during the three year-term. The Court meets once a year in December and most business is conducted by circulation of papers. The composition and powers of the University Court, as provided in Statutes XV and XVII of the Ordinance, are set out in Annex V.

The English Schools Foundation

8. Regulations made under section 10 of The English Schools Foundation Ordinance (Cap. 1117) provide, inter alia, that two members of the Foundation shall be nominated by Members of the Legislative Council among their own number. The composition, powers and duties of the Foundation, as set out in Regulation 3 of The English School Foundation Ordinance, are detailed in Annex VI. Regulation 3.3 provides that a nominated member shall hold office for not more than three years at a time. The Foundation meets twice a year, in June and December.


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