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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The delegation of the Legislative Council Public Accounts Committee (LegCo PAC) began its duty visit in London, United Kingdom (UK). Members of the delegation met with the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament (the Commons PAC) and the All Party Parliamentary China Group of the UK Parliament. The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Mr Liu Xiaoming.
The delegation attended a meeting with the Commons PAC yesterday (March 22). Chair of the Commons PAC, Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, and other members of the Committee discussed with the delegation the Committee's work of examining the reports produced by the Comptroller and Auditor General on his value for money (VFM) studies, as well as the Committee's working practices and procedures. The delegation also shared with the Commons PAC its work of studying the Director of Audit's VFM reports in the LegCo in Hong Kong.
The delegation was glad to meet with its counterpart in the UK House of Commons and to see the Commons PAC at work. Members of the delegation considered the exchange of views very informative and the experience of the Commons PAC a useful reference for them in enhancing the operation and practices of the LegCo PAC in Hong Kong. They were also grateful to the Chair and members of the Commons PAC for sparing the time to meet with them when the Committee was busy with its work.
In the afternoon, the delegation met with the Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary China Group of the UK Parliament, Mr Mark Hendrick, and other members of the Group to discuss the political and economic developments in Hong Kong. The delegation was pleased to note the UK Parliament's continued interest in Hong Kong. They also received a briefing on the budget procedures by the Deputy Head (Finance), Scrutiny Unit, Department of Chamber and Committee Services in the House of Commons, Mr David Ash.
The delegation met with the Director-General, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London, Mrs Agnes Allcock, on Monday (March 21) and received a briefing on the latest political and economic development in UK. The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Mr Liu Xiaoming.
The delegation, led by the Chairman of the PAC, Dr Hon Philip Wong Yu-hong, continues its duty visit in London today. Other members of the delegation include the Deputy Chairman of the PAC, Hon Paul Chan Mo-po; Hon Ronny Tong Ka-wah, Hon Cyd Ho Sau-lan, and Hon Starry Lee Wai-king. In response to the PAC's invitation, the Director of Audit, Mr Benjamin Tang, accompanies the delegation to provide professional assistance and technical advice to facilitate the Committee's study.
Ends/Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:37
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