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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987
CO-OPERATION LEADS TO EFFECTIVE AUDIT PROCESS
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THE SUCCESSFUL EVOLUTION OF THE AUDIT PROCESS IS THE OUTCOME OF CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE ON THE ONE HAND AND THE LEGISLATURE AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE OTHER, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
TABLING THE NINTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LEE PRAISED THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT FOR THEIR WORK AS SHOWN BY MANY EXAMPLES PROVIDED BY THE REPORT.
MR LEE, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE ARRANGEMENT WAS FOUNDED ON A SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES WHEREBY ONE SORT OF POWER, THE POWER TO SPEND MONEY, WAS VESTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN THE EXECUTIVE, AND ANOTHER SORT OF POWER, THAT OF CALLING THE EXECUTIVE TO ACCOUNT WAS VESTED IN THE COUNCIL.
+THIS DISTRIBUTION OF POWER IS A DELICATE BALANCE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT PRESENT EXPERIENCE SUGGESTS WE HAVE GOT IT JUST ABOUT RIGHT, + HE SAID.
MR LEE STRESSED IT WAS VITAL THAT ALL COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM CONTINUED TO EXERCISE THEIR POWER RESPONSIBLY AND THAT LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS DID NOT SEEK TO ARROGATE SO MUCH POWER TO THEMSELVES THAT IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE EXECUTIVE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY.
+ IN THE CASE OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, THIS CHALLENGE REQUIRES THE COMMITTEE TO BE CRITICAL WHEN CRITICISM IS DUE, BUT ALSO TO BE FAIR, TO BE OBJECTIVE AND TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE,+ HE ADDED.
EPD MANPOWER TO BE INCREASED
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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO STRENGTHEN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR IN VIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT'S INCREASED WORKLOAD, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE ESTABLISHMENT WOULD EXPAND BY 80 PER CENT (FROM 283 TO 507 POSTS) ON APRIL 1 IF THE PROPOSAL, WHICH WAS SUBJECT TO THE VOTING OF FUNDS BY THE COUNCIL, WAS ACCEPTED.
/MR CHAMBERS
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