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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987

+GENEROUS AND ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORTERS OF SPORTS AND CULTURE MAY BE INTERESTED TO LEARN THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE HAS BEEN EXPLORING WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE THE POSSIBILITY OF PROVIDING FURTHER TAX INCENTIVES TO DONORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE ADDED.

ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT, MR LIAO SAID THERE WERE PLANS TO ESTABLISH THREE ADDITIONAL DISTRICT BUILDING MANAGEMENT TEAMS IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF HAD ALWAYS PROVIDED ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE TO RESIDENTS ON BUILDING MANAGEMENT MATTERS, AND SINCE NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, 82 ADDITIONAL OWNERS' CORPORATIONS AND 32 MUTUAL AID COMMITTÉES HAD BEEN FORMED IN PRIVATE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS, HE SAID.

+THE FOUR DISTRICT BUILDING MANAGEMENT TEAMS SET UP OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE SO FAR PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS AND MANAGEMENT BODIES IN 142 BUILDINGS, MR LIAO SAID.

POLICY OF ENGAGING CONSULTANTS TO BE STUDIED

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THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, ASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WEDNESDAY) THAT A THOROUGH STUDY ON THE MERITS OF CONSULTANTS WOULD BE CONDUCTED BEFORE ENTERING INTO FURTHER COMMITMENTS.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1987, MR BARNES EXPLAINED THAT UNDER POLICY ENDORSED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE IN 1983 CONSULTANTS FOR ENGINEERING PROJECTS WERE NORMALLY EMPLOYED ONLY WHEN GOVERNMENT DID NOT HAVE EITHER THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE OR SUFFICIENT IN-HOUSE RESOURCES.

IN THE NEW TOWNS IT WAS DECIDED TO EMPLOY CONSULTANTS IN THE EARLY 1970'S BECAUSE GOVERNMENT WISHED TO EMBARK ON A VERY MAJOR EXPANSION PROGRAMME VERY QUICKLY, AND IT WOULD HAVE DELAYED THAT PROGRAMME IF WE HAD ATTEMPTED TO RECRUIT OR REDEPLOY STAFF IN-HOUSE FOR THE JOB.

+ HOWEVER, THE SCOPE OF THESE CONSULTANTS WILL REDUCE AS THE MAIN WORKS ARE COMPLETED, AND I WILL ENSURE THAT A THOROUGH STUDY OF THE MERITS OF THE SITUATION IS DONE BEFORE ENTERING INTO ANY FURTHER COMMITMENTS AND THAT THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONSULTANTS IS PROPERLY JUSTIFIED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE IN EACH CASE,+ HE SAID.

MMR BARNES

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