WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984
11
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR CHEN QUOTED THE FINAL PARAGRAPH FROM THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT WHICH READS: +THE COMMITTEE IS DISAPPOINTED AND DISTRESSED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT SHOULD HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY IN SO MANY AREAS OF HIS REPORT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO OVERSIGHTS, OMISSIONS AND FAILURES BY CIVIL SERVANTS WHICH POINT TO WHAT WE WOULD TERM INEFFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATION.
+SENIOR MANAGEMENT MUST ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A CONTINUOUS CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE PROCEDURES IN FORCE IN DEPARTMENTS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THESE PROCEDURES ARE BOTH ADEQUATE IN THEIR CONCEPTION AND EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED.
+THE COMMITTEE WAS FRANKLY DISCOURAGED ON OCCASIONS WHEN INTERVIEWING SOME OF THE WITNESSES WHO APPEARED BEFORE IT BY THE SENSE GIVEN THAT FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS WERE OFTEN A POOR SECOND TO OTHER CONCERNS IN THE MINDS OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS.
+THERE IS ALL TOO LITTLE EVIDENCE THAT VALUE FOR MONEY CARRIES THE WEIGHT WHICH IT SHOULD WITH THOSE WHO HAVE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,+ HE SAID.
+ALTHOUGH THE COMMITTEE NEVER DOUBTED THE DILIGENCE AND DEDICATION OF CONTROLLING OFFICERS, THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHEN IT FELT THAT THESE OFFICERS IN GRAPPLING WITH THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS WHICH THEY FACE FELT CONSTRAINED TO PRESS ON REGARDLESS EITHER IN TERMS OF FINISHING A PROJECT OR RETAINING AN OLD AND INEFFICIENT SYSTEM BECAUSE THEIR DEPARTMENTS DID NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY TO INITIATE A THOROUGH REVIEW OF WHAT THEY WERE DOING, + HE ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE ACCOUNTING OFFICER FOR EACH HEAD OF EXPENDITURE RECEIVES ON APPOINTMENT A LETTER WHICH LAYS DOWN HIS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HE BELIEVED THAT THE ISSUE OF A SIMILAR LETTER WOULD BE A GOOD PRACTICE TO FOLLOW IN HONG KONG.
MINOR CLAIMS PROCEDURE SIMPLE
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UNDER A RECENTLY-INTRODUCED SPECIALLY SIMPLE PROCEDURE, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF COMPENSATION ASSESSMENT IN ABOUT EIGHT DAYS TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN GRANTED SICK LEAVE OF LESS THAN 14 DAYS FOR MINOR WORK INJURIES.
THE EMPLOYER IS THEN BOUND TO PAY ANY BALANCE OF COMPENSATION WITHIN 21 DAYS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON RON BRIDGE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, WHO ASKED HOW LONG IT USUALLY TOOK FOR A WORKER INJURED AT WORK TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION AND WHAT ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT IN THE INTER IM,
/MR BRIDGE