WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984
10
MR CHAN ACCEPTED THAT NO ONE SHALL BE IMPRISONED MERELY ON THE GROUND OF INABILITY TO FULFIL A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION. +
+BUT FIRST WE MUST CONSIDER IN PRINCIPLE WHETHER HONG KONG SHOULD ALWAYS FAITHFULLY AND RELIGIOUSLY FOLLOW ALL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS WITHOUT MODIFICATIONS, HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT CREDIT WAS THE LIFEBLOOD OF MANY BUSINESSES IN HONG KONG BUT CREDIT CONTROL FACILITIES WERE NOT PERFECT.
+THIS CAN BE PROVEN BY THE 14 000 HIGH COURT WRITS ISSUED IN A YEAR. THE AVERAGE OF 44 DEBTORS IMPRISONED PER MONTH IS ONLY THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG, HE SAID.
+ IT IS THE USE OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM AND THE FEAR OF IMPRISONMENT WHICH KEEPS THE BULK OF CASES FROM APPEARING BEFORE A JUDGE, HE ADDED.
HE SAID THAT THE PRESENT BILL WOULD COMPLICATE THE EXISTING PROCEDURE FOR THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR TO RECOVER HIS LAWFUL DEBT FROM UNSCRUPULOUS DEBTORS.
+ IF MOST OF THE 14 000 CASES HAVE TO BE HEARD BEFORE A JUDGE, IT WILL MEAN EITHER LONG DELAYS OR THE APPOINTMENT OF MORE JUDGES,+ HE SAID.
+THE INCREASED COST AND DELAY CAUSED BY THE CHANGE IN PROCEDURE MAY ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE NOT SO LAW-ABIDING AND THOSE FOR WHOM THE NEW LEGAL PROCESS IS TOO EXPENSIVE TO TAKE THE SHORT CUT OF US ING HIRED MUSCLE TO UNDERTAKE THE COLLECTION OF DEBTS. THE COMMUNITY WILL FEEL THE EFFECT OF INCREASED VIOLENCE, HE SAID.
MORE USE OF COST ACCOUNTANTS PROPOSED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE MORE USE OF COST ACCOUNTANTS IN ITS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID WHEN HE TABLED THE SIXTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ON BEHALF OF THE COMMITTEE, MR CHEN MADE THE SUGGESTION THAT THE MANAGEMENT TEAM OF ALMOST ANY DEPARTMENT WHICH DEALS WITH LARGE SUMS IN TERMS OF EITHER REVENUE OR EXPENDITURE SHOULD INCLUDE A COST ACCOUNTANT SECONDED FROM THE TREASURY.
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ACCOUNTANT WOULD BE TO ADVISE THE DIRECTOR OF THAT DEPARTMENT ON APPROPRIATE YARDSTICKS FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF COST-BENEFIT, AND NECESSARY MEASURES TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY, HE EXPLAINED.
+ SHOULD STRESS, HOWEVER, THAT THE THINKING HERE IS NOT TO HAVE ONE MAN IN EACH DEPARTMENT WHO IS THE ONLY ONE CONCERNED WITH THESE MATTERS BUT ONE MAN WHO CAN PROMOTE AWARENESS OF THESE CONSIDERATIONS AMONG HIS COLLEAGUES, HE ADDED.
/BARLIÄR IN