MR CHAN KIN-POR (in Cantonese): Thank you, President. On behalf of the Finance Committee, I submit its Report on the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure 2022-2023.
The Finance Committee held a total of 21 sessions of special meetings in mid-April this year to examine the Estimates of Expenditure 2022-2023, with the aim to ensure that the authorities are seeking a provision no more than necessary for the execution of the policies approved.
This year, the President of the Legislative Council (“LegCo”) called on each Member to ask no more than 10 questions so that the Government could channel resources to fight against the pandemic. Before the commencement of the special meetings, 89 Members submitted 865 written questions on the Estimates of Expenditure, in which a relatively larger number of questions were related to health, commerce, industry and tourism, financial services, education as well as planning and lands. The Administration submitted replies to all questions that were compliant with the Rules of Procedure before the special meetings. As for the supplementary questions raised by Members during the special meetings, the Administration’s replies to these questions were submitted before the third Budget meeting on 4 May 2022. All questions and replies were uploaded onto the LegCo website.
At the special meetings, Members raised questions on the Estimates of Expenditure, and they also expressed concerns and views on measures closely related to people’s livelihood, such as the measures to combat the pandemic and to stimulate the economy referred to in the Budget. The verbatim record of proceedings of the special meetings are set out in the report.
Following the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2022 on 4 May 2022, the Finance Committee started to examine the funding requests submitted by the Financial Secretary for changing the approved Estimates of Expenditure.
President, the Finance Committee spent a total of approximately 30 hours to complete the examination of the Estimates of Expenditure, the process of which was smooth in general. In this regard, I would like to extend my gratitude to Members for their enthusiastic participation and to the various Policy Bureaux and departments of the Government for their cooperation.
I so submit.