PLC Paper No. CB(2) 41/97-98
Ref : CB2/T/1

Paper for the House Committee Meeting
on 18 July 1997

Nomination of Members to
Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee,
Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board, and
Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board

Purpose

1. This paper invites Members to -

1. note the requests from the Administration for Provisional Legislative Council Members to be nominated for appointment to the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee, Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board; and
2. consider the nomination and election procedure for (a) above.

Background

Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee

2. The Secretary to the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee has approached the Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) Secretariat inviting Members to make two nominations for appointment by the Chief Executive to the Advisory Committee.

3. 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 by the Chief Executive of the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Financial Secretary on disbursement from the Fund. The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee are in Appendix I.

4. 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 Provisional Legislative Council. The Advisory Committee meets as and when required.

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

5. The Secretary for Home Affairs has written to the PLC Secretariat inviting Members to make nominations for membership of the Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board.

6. 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 Appendix 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 Provisional Legislative Council from among their own number as an ex officio member of the Board.

7. 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 Appendix 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 Provisional Legislative Council from among their own number as an ex officio member of the Board.

8. 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 Board of Directors in March each year. There is no such arrangement for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board.

Nomination and Election Procedure

9. It is recommended that the nomination and election of Members for appointment to the three advisory bodies be conducted at a House Committee meeting. A valid nomination shall be made orally by a Member, seconded by at least one other Member, and accepted by the Member being nominated. If there is objection to a particular nomination or if the number of nomination exceeds that required by the Administration for appointment, a vote will be taken by a show of hands.

Advice sought

10. Members�view is sought on the nomination and election procedure proposed in paragraph 9 above.

11. Subject to Members�agreement to the nomination and election procedure, Members will be invited to make the following nominations at the next meeting of the House Committee on 8 August 1997 -

1. Two Members to serve on the Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee;
2. One Member to serve on the Po Leung Kuk Advisory Board; and
3. One Member to serve on the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Advisory Board.

Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat
16 July 1997