THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983

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CONSULTANCY ON MONITORING OF POWER COMPANIES

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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PROPOSAL THAT INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS OF THE POWER COMPANIES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE OBJECT OF THE CONSULTANCY WAS TO REVIEW THE GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS OF THE POWER COMPANIES, AND TO ADVISE WHETHER THESE ARRANGEMENTS ADEQUATELY ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY ARE DESIGNED.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE CONSULTANTS WOULD NOT BE REVIEWING THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL. THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION IN RESPECT TO THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL WAS THAT THEY WERE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WHICH COULD NOT BE CHANGED WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES.

ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING PARTICULARLY UNSATISFACTORY WITH THE PRESENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS, THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE ASKED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE ARE ANY MORE EFFICIENT METHODS BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT PERFORM THIS FUNCTION.

STEPS WILL BE TAKEN HOW TO APPOINT A FIRM OF CONSULTANTS WITH THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE. THIS INVOLVES THE SELECTION OF SUITABLE ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT FIRMS CAPABLE OF MOBILISING A MULTI-DISCIPLINE TEAM, FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE CENTRAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION BOARD.

WORRIES OVER FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME GROUNDLESS

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MUCH OF THE WORRIES AND PROBLEMS ANTICIPATED BY PARENTS AND NURSERY OPERATORS EARLIER OVER THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAVE PROVED +QUITE UNWARRANTED+.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, WHEN SHE OPENED THE PO LEUNG KUK'S WONG SIU CHING NURSERY AT CHOI WAN ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, ITS 16TH DAY NURSERY.

SHE SAID THE CHANGE TO THE NEW SYSTEM FROM SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR WAS INITIALLY GREETED WITH CONSIDERABLE MISGIVINGS.

+AS WE ALL GAIN GREATER EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING THIS NEW SYSTEM AND WITH CONTINUED CO-OPERATION BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNMENT, I AM SURE WE CAN IRON OUT ANY REMAINING OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS, SHE SAID.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT MORE THAN 10 000 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN AIDED AND NON-PROFIT MAKING DAY NURSERIES AND OVER 90 FER CENT OF THEM ARE RECEIVING SOME LEVEL OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

/THEY LESC

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