carried forward from 1973-74 the vote for the fitting out of premises was
already fully committed at the beginning of 1974-75. To have entered
into the commitment in this particular case would have exceeded delegated
powers. In May 1975, therefore, Finance Committee approved the creation
of a project estimate for the vote which included the commitment for the
fitting out of this leased accommodation, thus enabling future cases,
if they arise, to be approved under delegated powers to the extent of
the balance in the project estimate. The authority to proceed with the
work was given immediately after this decision of Finance Committee.
Paragraph 48: Head 72 - Public Works Non-recurrent: Engineering
23.
Subhead S04 Tai bor Ping and Pipers Hill interchanges
The Principal Government Land Agent has advised that there
was never any reasonable doubt that an exchange would result from the
negotiations, and that the financial consequences of delay in making
available the private land were not fully appreciated until too late.
Also, from his experience, the magnitude of the contractor's claim
was so unusual that it could not reasonably have been foreseen, bearing
in mind that the area involved was only a small proportion of that
necessary for the entire scheme. Generally, Government projects of
this nature require a considerable amount of private land which is
sometimes acquired compulsorily but mostly by negotiated exchange, as
in this case, and the main difficulty lies in deciding at what stage
to break off negotiations.
Faragraphs 49 54: Head 74 Public Works Non-recurrent: Waterworks
24.
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Subhead 901 High Island water scheme
In essence, the Director of Audit raises four points in
paragraphs 49 53. First, the award of resettlement houses and cash
compensation to the Group A fishermen was unjustifiably generous in
some cases. Second, the basis for providing resettlement houses to
families classified in Group B, on payment of a premium of $6,000,
was questionable. Third, the decision to include 77 Group C families
/in....