WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1981
MONITORING SYSTEM ADEQUATE, CHIEF SECRETARY SAYS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT ITS SYSTEM OF MONITORING MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS IS ADEQUATE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
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IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SIR PHI IP GAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT THE SYSTEM IS REVIEWED FROM TIME TO TIME TO SEE IF IT CAN BE IMPROVED.
+BUT, HE SAID, NO MONITORING SYSTEM CAN, IN ITSELF NECESSARILY ENSURE THAT WORKS PROJECTS WILL ALWAYS BE COMPLETED, AND SATISFACTORILY, ON TIME.
ON LARGE AND TECHNICALLY-COMPLEX PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTS, UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES CAN AND DO ARISE WHICH CAUSE DELAYS, THE COST OF WHICH IS BORNE BY THE CO TRACTOR OR THE CLIENT DEPARTMENT DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT.
+OF COURSE, THE MONITORING SYSTEM DOES GIVE EARLY WARNING THAT DELAYS MAY OCCUR, ENABLING CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE PUT IN HAND BUT, AS I HAVE JUST SAID, IT IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO AVOID DELAYS,+ HE ADDED.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON LEGAL AID FROM THE HON PETER C WONG. SIR PHILIP SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY CONSIDERING PROPOSALS WHICH, IF APPROVED, WOULD MEAN THAT LEGAL AID WOULD CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS IN TENANCY CASES UNDER PART II OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT ORDINANCE WHEN THE JURISDICTION TO HEAR THEM IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE DISTRICT COURTS TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.
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