TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1984
THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S BILL IS THE STANDARD CHARTERED ASIA LIMITED BILL 1984.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE FOUR SESSIONAL PAPERS AND A STATEMENT TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE COUNCIL.
THE STATEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, ON THE CHANGES TO THE APPROVED ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JUNE 30.
AUDIT SCRUTINY TO BE HELD IN PUBLIC *****
OPEN MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD LATER THIS MONTH FOLLOWING TABLING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW OF THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THIS FOLLOWS THE SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN MARCH THIS YEAR WHEN MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE HELD IN PUBLIC. THROUGH WIDE MEDIA COVERAGE OF QUESTIONS AND ANSWER SESSIONS THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO USE TAXPAYERS' MONEY IN 1984-85.
THE OPEN MEETINGS OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WILL BE HELD IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER ON: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, AT 2.30 PM; WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, AT 2.30 PM; THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, AT 9 AM; FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, AT 9 AM; AND TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2) AT 2.30 PM.
MOST OF ITS EXAMINATIONS WILL BE CONCERNED WITH THE VALUE FOR MONEY OBTAINED BY CONTROLLING OFFICERS IN SPENDING THE FUNDS ENTRUSTED TO THEM,
THE PUBLIC HEARINGS FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF A REPORT BY THE PAC ON HOW IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS WORK COULD BE MADE TO ENHANCE ITS ROLE AS THE PUBLIC WATCHDOG OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD RETAIN THE POWER TO EXCLUDE PUBLIC AND PRESS FROM MEETINGS IN CASES WHERE THE PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRED CONFIDENTIALITY.
TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC SESSIONS TO PROCEED SOME CHANGES IN THE ANNUAL AUDIT CYCLE HAVE BEEN MADE. PREVIOUSLY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT WAS ONLY TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHEN THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE HAD DONE ITS WORK AND ITS REPORT WAS ALSO READY FOR PRESENTATION.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL STANDING ORDERS WERE CHANGED EARLIER THIS YEAR SO THAT THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT WILL ALREADY BE A PUBLISHED DOCUMENT WHEN THE PAC MEETS IN PUBLIC SESSION,
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