Legislative Council

LC Paper No. CB(3) 19/98-99

Ref:	CB(3)/PA/APP CB(3)/C/3 CB/1/R/1/1

Paper for the House Committee Meeting
on 6 July 1998

Procedure for Election of Members for Appointment to the
Public Accounts Committee, Committee on Members' Interests
and Committee on Rules of Procedure

Purpose

This paper invites the House Committee to agree on the procedure for the election of Members for appointment by the President to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Committee on Members' Interests (CMI) and the Committee on Rules of Procedure (CRoP).

Background

2. The PAC, CMI and CRoP are committees of the Council as stipulated in Rules 72, 73 and 74 of the Rules of Procedure respectively. The terms of reference of these committees are set out in Appendices 1A, 1B and 1C respectively. The membership of these committees are as follows:

Under the Rules of Procedure, members of these committees shall be appointed by the President in accordance with the election procedures determined by the House Committee. Members of these committees serve on the committees until the end of a Legislative Council term.

Proposed election procedure

3. We propose that-

1. the election of Members to these committees be by way of nominations made orally at a meeting of the House Committee. In making the nominations, Members should have regard for the need to ensure that the committees' membership is broadly balanced and representative of the membership of the Council;

2. if there are more nominations than places available for any one committee, an election by a show of hands should be conducted;

3. after the election of members to these committees, the House Committee should adjourn for 10 minutes to enable the elected members to nominate their chairmen and deputy chairmen from amongst themselves; and

4. the House Committee will then resume and be asked to endorse the election.

4. The House Committee's recommendations in regard to the membership of these committees will then be submitted to the President for appointment.

Timing for election

5. Subject to Members' agreement to the election procedure set out in paragraph 3 above, we recommend that the nomination and election of members to the three committees be conducted at the meeting of the House Committee to be held on 10 July 1998.

Advice sought

6. Members are invited to

1. endorse the procedure for the election of Members for appointment to the PAC, CMI and CRoP, as set out in paragraph 3; and

2. agree on the timing for the election of Members for appointment to the three committees, as set out in paragraph 5.

Legislative Council Secretariat
2 July 1998

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Appendix 1A

Public Accounts Committee

Terms of Reference

1. To consider reports of the Director of Audit -
   1. on the accounts of the Government;

   2. on such other accounts required to be laid before the Council as the committee may think fit; and

   3. on any matter incidental to the performance of his duties or the exercise of his powers as the committee may think fit; and

2. To consider any report of the Director of Audit laid on the Table of the Council which deals with examinations (value for money audit) carried out by the Director relating to the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of any Government department or public body or any organization to which his functions as Director of Audit extend by virtue of any Ordinance or which receives public moneys by way of subvention.

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Appendix 1B

Committee on Members' Interests

Terms of Reference

1. To examine the arrangements made for the compilation, maintenance and accessibility of the Register of Members' Interests;

2. To consider any proposals made by Members or others as to the form and contents of the Register;

3. To consider and investigate any complaint made in relation to the registration and declaration of Members' interests or any complaint of a failure to do so;

4. To consider matters of ethics in relation to the conduct of Members in their capacity as such, and to give advice and issue guidelines on such matters; and

5. To report to the Council and make recommendations, including a recommendation as to a sanction under Rule 85 (Sanctions relating to Interests).

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Appendix 1C

Committee on Rules of Procedure

Terms of Reference

1. To review the Rules of Procedure of the Council and the committee system, and to propose to the Council such amendments or changes as are considered necessary; and

2. To examine matters of practice and procedure relating to the Council referred by the Council or its committees or the President, or raised by its own members.