3
In addition, the Senior Staff
Course, which
commenced in September last year, has
has on its programme a
full session dedicated to financial policy and budgetary
management.
Sir, I think these courses, together with the
response contained in the Government minute, demonstrate
clearly the Administration's conviction that, although
- steps are continually being taken to develop better
financial management within the Government and I do not
think we need be too self-conscious about Our record
further improvements will continue to be Our aim. This
does not mean that we intend to turn all our Controlling
Officers into
into cost or management accountants as they have
broader responsibilities. The objective is to make them
more aware of their financial responsibilities and the role
they are
are meant to play and to equip them with an improved
capability to monitor expenditure through the provision of
improved financial information and better professional
accounting support. To this end, the Ledger Accounting and
Financial Information System (LAFIS) is being extended with
the aim, eventually, of covering all government departments.
Finally, Sir, I would like to echo the remarks
made by Mr. Chen in his speech to this Council on
23 January this year that the public meetings of the
Committee has been an unqualified success. I would also
like to place on record
record the Administration's appreciation
of the work of the Public Accounts Committee.