WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1979
13
BILL TO STRENGTHEN DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S INDEPENDENCE ******
A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT HAD ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT HAS NOW ACQUIRED A SUFFICIENT DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO WARRANT HIS REMUNERATION BEING PROVIDED FOR STATUTORILY.
+AS THE POWER OF APPOINTMENT RESTS WITH THE GOVERNOR UNDER SECTION 3 (1) OF THE ORDINANCE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE LEVEL OF REMUNERATION SHALL ALSO BE DETERMINED FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE GOVERNOR.
+THUS, THE POST OF DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WILL BE, IN FUTURE, IF THIS BILL IS PASSED, EXCLUDED FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT AND HIS SALARY WILL BE PROVIDED FOR IN THE ESTIMATES IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.
HE SAID THESE CHANGES WILL REFLECT THE FACT THAT THE DIRECTOR, IN THE PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES AND IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS POWERS, +IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE DIRECTION OR CONTROL OF ANY OTHER PERSON OR AUTHORITY.+
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
NEW AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL TO BE INTRODUCED
AT LEGCO SOON *****
THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON, DEREK JONES TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HE HOPED TO PRESENT THE NEW AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL AT THE NEXT SESSION.
MR. JONES SAID THIS IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION IN KWAI CHUNG AND THE MEASURES TO CONTROL AND REDUCE THE PROBLEM.
HE SAID HE COULD ONLY ANSWER THE QUESTION DEFINITELY WHEN THE STAFF AND OTHER RESOURCES HE HAD ASKED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT HAD BEEN PROVIDED.
+HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL NOT TAKE TOO LONG, MR. JONES SAID.
HE SAID HE BELIEVED AIR POLLUTION IN HONG KONG HAS NOT REACHED REALLY SERIOUS PROPORTIONS.
MR. JONES