4.1
4 COMMITTEE PROCEEDINGS REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 1985
The Consideration of the Director of Audit's Report. As in previous years, the Committee did not consider it necessary to investigate in detail every observation contained in the Director of Audit's report and they therefore selected only those paragraphs which, in their view, referred to more serious irregularities or shortcomings. It is the investigation of those paragraphs which constitutes the bulk of this report. The Committee continue to expect, however, that the Government will take appropriate remedial action as required on the remaining paragraphs of the Director's report.
4.2 Meetings. The Committee held seven meetings in all, including four public meetings. At these public meetings they heard evidence from a total of 21 Branch Secretaries and Heads of Departments, the Executive Director of the Trade Development Council and a representative of a consultancy firm referred to in the Director of Audit's Report. The names of the witnesses are listed in Appendix A to this report.
4.3 The Arrangement of the Report. The evidence of the witnesses who appeared before the Committee and the Committee's specific conclusions and recommendations, based on that evidence and on their deliberations on the relevant paragraphs of the Director of Audit's report, are set out below in three sections, entitled Government Secretariat, Government Departments (with each section arranged alphabetically by Branch or Department) and General Conclusions and Recommendations. The paragraph numbers quoted refer to paragraphs in the Director of Audit's report and an index by subject is also provided.
4.4 Acknowledgements. The Committee wish to place on record the appreciation of the co-operative approach adopted by all the officers who were called to give evidence. The Committee are also grateful for the assistance and constructive advice given throughout by the Director of Audit, the Deputy Financial Secretary and the Director of Accounting Services.
4.5 The Committee also wish to thank their Secretary and his supporting staff for their support and hardwork in the course of the Committee's work and to commend them for their efficiency in organizing the Committee's in-house meetings and public hearings and in the preparation of this Report.
5 GOVERNMENT PAPER ON THE REPORT OF
THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 1985
5.1 In response to certain policy issues raised in the Director of Audit's Report for the year ended 31 March 1985 the Government tabled a paper setting out the Government's position on these issues in the Legislative Council on 20 November 1985, the same day as the Director's Report was tabled. A copy of this paper is at Appendix B. This paper was introduced in a statement by the Chief Secretary in which he said that the appropriate forum for considering policy issues, including any that may be raised in the Director of Audit's Annual Report is the Legislative Council. A copy of this statement is at Appendix C.
5.2
The Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee referred to the Government Paper in his introductory remarks at the first public hearing of the Committee on 25 November 1985. The Chairman stated that whilst the Committee fully endorsed the Government decision to table in the Legislative Council a written Government Paper in response to certain policy issues raised in the Director of Audit's Report, it was not the intention of the Committee that the Government Paper should be regarded as a substitute for a personal appearance by the Heads of Branches and Departments concerned where this was necessary to assist the Committee to come to their conclusions. Accordingly, and where appropriate, the Committee would be asking those officials to give evidence at the Committee's hearings. A copy of the Chairman's statement is at Appendix D.
5.3 The Director of Audit commented on the Chief Secretary's statement and the Government Paper in a statement he made at the second public hearing of the Committee on 29 November 1985. A copy of the Director's statement is at Appendix E.
5.4 The Committee refer to this matter again at paragraphs 8.1 and 8.2 of their general conclusions and recommendations in Section 8.
6 GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH
6.1 Paragraphs 46–54. Disaster recovery planning for Government computer installations. In response to the Committee's invitation to comment on the drawing up of a disaster recovery plan for the Government's computer installations, the Secretary for Administrative Services and Information said that a disaster recovery plan would be submitted to the Computer Committee for consideration at its meeting to be held on 12 December 1985. The plan consisted of two parts. The first part covered the recovery of software and data, and the second part covered the necessary back-up hardware facilities to be installed offsite. These would enable the immediate resumption of computer services in the event of a disaster. The Secretary stated that a 100% recovery of software and data was possible. Provision of 100% back-up of hardware facilities would cost $300 million over five years. This was considered over ambitious and unnecessary and instead it was proposed to cover 75% of the critical areas. The proposed 75% coverage would cost $70 million over five years and would be adequate for the Government's needs. The proposals was to provide standby facilities in the form of two offsite mainframe computers between them covering the two major suppliers to the Government. The facilities would be used for non-essential and non-urgent computing work whilst on standby.
9