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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1977
ONE AVENUE OF CONTROL, HE SAID, WAS THAT THE SUBVENTION RULES GOVERNING SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES FIELD +WILL BE AUGMENTED, IF EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOT ADEQUATE, TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS OF THE ORGANISATIONS+.
REFERRING TO MISS BENNETT'S QUERY OF WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED SUCH CONTROL ADEQUATE TO ENSURE THAT THE SUBVENTIONS ALLOCATED WERE USED TO PROVIDE SATISFACTORY STANDARDS OF SERVICE, MR. LI ADMITTED THAT HE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY BECAUSE IRRESPECTIVE
OF THE STANDARDS ACHIEVED, THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT+.
+HOWEVER, HE SAID, +1 FEEL I CAN SAY THAT IN GENERAL THE TAXPAYER IS GETTING GOOD VALUE IN RETURN FOR THE SUBVENTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICES AGENCIES.+
MORE BARBECUE PITS FOR PUBLIC USE
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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PROVIDE A FURTHER 300 BARBECUE PITS FOR PUBLIC USE WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, THE HON. E.H. NICHOLS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING WHO HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING MORE BARBECUE PITS IN ORDER TO DISCOURAGE INDISCRIMINATE LIGHTING OF BARBECUE FIRES.
MR. NICHOLS SAID THERE WERE ALREADY 1,380 BARBECUE PITS PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC USE. OF THESE 280 WERE PUT IN DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. LEUNG, HE SAID THAT AT PRESENT THERE WERE 90 FULL TIME PATROL STAFF IN THE DEPARTMENT ENFORCING COUNTRYSIDE PROTECTION LEGISLATION. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE 147 STAFF AUTHORISED TO CARRY OUT ENFORCEMENT WORK ANCILLARY TO THEIR OTHER DUTIES.
+AT TIMES OF HIGH FIRE RISKS, PATROL STAFF ARE ASSISTED, WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, BY 40 CAS CADETS,+ HE SAID.
AT
+AS GOVERNMENT'S COUNTRYSIDE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE EXTENDED, ADDITIONAL POSTS ARE INCLUDED. THIRTY-TWO SUCH STAFF WILL BECOME AVAILABLE PRIOR TO THE NEXT FIRE SEASON COMES.+
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