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*Y, MARCH 13. 1985
THESE COURSES, TOGETHER WITH THE RESPONSE CONTAINED IN THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE, DEMONSTRATED CLEARLY THE ADMINISTRATION'S CONVICTION THAT, ALTHOUGH STEPS WERE CONTINUALLY BEING TAKEN TO DEVELOP BETTER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT, FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS WOULD CONTINUE TO BE THE AIM.
+THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE INTEND TO TURN ALL OUR CONTROLLING OFFICERS INTO COST OR MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANTS AS THEY HAVE BROADER RESPONSIBILITIES.
+THE OBJECTIVE IS TO MAKE THEM MORE AWARE OF THEIR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE ROLE THEY ARE MEANT TO PLAY AND TO EQUIP THEM WITH AN IMPROVED CAPABILITY TO MONITOR EXPENDITURE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF IMPROVED FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND BETTER PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTING SUPPORT,+ HE SAID.
TO THIS END, SIR PHILIP SAID, THE LEDGER ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM WAS BEING EXTENDED WITH THE AIM, EVENTUALLY, OF COVERING ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
ECHOING MR CHEN'S REMARKS, SIR PHILIP SAID THE PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS.
+I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO PLACE ON RECORD THE ADMINISTRATION'S APPRECIATION OF THE WORK OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE,+ HE SAID.
MONITORING SCHEME ACHIEVES AIM, CONSULTANTS SAY *****
THE GOVERNMENT'S MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS OF THE POWER COMPANIES HAVE BEEN SUITABLE AND HAVE ACHIEVED THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED.
THIS IS THE CONCLUSION DRAWN BY INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS FOLLOWING A DETAILED 13-MONTH EXAMINATION OF THE ARRANGEMENTS.
THE REPORT OF CONSULTANTS, MESSRS ERNST AND WHINNEY, WILL BE PUBLISHED TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC.
IN A STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THE CONSULTANTS HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS IN THE PAST HAD BEEN SUITABLE, GIVEN THE EMPHASIS ON ENSURING A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY AT A COST THAT WAS COMPARABLE WITH, OR LESS THAN, THE CUST OF ELECTRICITY IN OTHER PLACES IN THE REGION.
MR JACOBS