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WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 1978
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, SENIOR UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG SAID IF THE PRESENT CONTROL ON COMPRESSED NON-INERT GASES IS FOUND TO BE ADEQUATE, THE SAME CONTROL FOR COMPRESSED INERT GASES MUST BE ADEQUATE AND THERE IS NO NEED TO INTRODUCE FURTHER CONTROLS AS PROPOSED IN THE BILL.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THE PRESENT CONTROL ON COMPRESSED NON-INERT GASES IS FOUND TO BE INADEQUATE AND ADDITIONAL CONTROL IS NECESSARY, THEN THE PRIORITY OF IMPOSING SUCH ADDITIONAL CONTROL SHOULD, WITHOUT DOUBT, BE GIVEN TO COMPRESSED NON-INERT GASES AND NOT TO COMPRESSED INERT GASES AS STIPULATED IN THE PRESENT BILL, HE SAID.
SIR SZE-YUEN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AS MR. HENDERSON MENTIONED
· EARLIER THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS PRESENTLY CONSIDERING THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A NEW FRAMEWORK OF LEGISLATION TO COVER COMPLETE PRESSURE SYSTEMS IN INDUSTRY AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IN HONG KONG THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR TIGHTENING THE CONTROL ON COMPRESSED INERT GASES. IT SEEMS MORE LOGICALLY THAT THIS PARTICULAR SECTION OF THE AMENDING BILL BE DEFERRED UNTIL THE SITUATION IN U.K. IS CLARIFIED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS LATER ADJOURNED.
AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL
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A BILL TO AMEND THE AUDIT ORDINANCE TO REFLECT THE CREATION AND THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AS A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978. MR. JORDAN SAID THE AMENDING LEGISLATION WAS THE LAST OF TWO MEASURES REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, THE FIRST BEING A RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 10.
THE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE BILL INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WILL SUMBIT HIS REPORTS TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
ANOTHER CLAUSE IN THE BILL PROVIDES THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORTS ON THEM WILL BE LAID BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALONG WITH THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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