8
HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 14 March 1984
d
the Medical and Health Department were greatly strengthened last year more recently Senior Treasury Accountants have been posted to the L Department and the Engineering Development Department. Consideration is currently being given to the further strengthening of the accounting staff in the Civil Aviation Department and to the appointment of an accountant in the Building Development Department.
Mr. CHEN also suggested that, in accordance with practice in the United Kingdom, each new head of department, upon appointment, should be issued a letter laying down his personal responsibilities, not only for safeguarding the public funds in his charge and ensuring that they are applied solely for the purposes intended by the legislature, but also for managing his department efficiently and economically, since it is for this that he will be called to account by the Public Accounts Committee.
We shall, of course, consider Mr. CHEN's suggestion carefully, but I should emphasize that Controlling Officers are informed, in very precise terms, of their responsibilities via the Financial and Accounting Regulations. The extant version of those regulations was issued when the Public Finance Ordinance was enacted last year. In addition, these regulations are reinforced by Financial Circulars which are brought to the particular attention of Controlling Officers and to all other departmental officers concerned with financial administration.
I would conclude by saying, Sir, in all fairness to Controlling Officers, that I believe they are generally aware of their responsibilities. If the Director of Audit and the Public Accounts Committee, in their enquiries, reveal situations and incidents which are less than satisfactory, let it be remembered that they are revealed and let them be seen in the context of the vast range and volume of Government transactions which do not have to be unfavourably commented
upon.
Government Business
Motions
LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) ORDINANCE
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the following motion:-That this Council approves the raising under the Loans (Government Bonds) Ordinance of a loan for the purposes of the general revenue by the issue of Government bonds of a total nominal value not exceeding 1,000 million Hong Kong dollars.
He said:---Sir, I move the first motion standing in my name in the Order Paper.
Its purpose is to provide the Government with authority to raise in Hong Kong a loan of up to HK$1 billion by the issue of bonds under the Loans (Government Bonds) Ordinance.