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FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1993
FORUM
"THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRESS COMMITTEE WILL PROVIDE THE MAIN FOR ENSURING THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACTS COLLECTIVELY IN A CO-ORDINATED FASHION. THE HIGH LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION OF ITS MEMBERS SHOULD ENABLE PROBLEMS TO BE RESOLVED THERE AND THEN WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, MR YEUNG SAID.
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HE NOTED THAT BETTER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION WOULD ALSO HELP.
"DECISIONS CAN ONLY BE TAKEN BY THIS NEW COMMITTEE AND OTHERS IF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON PROJECT PROGRESS AND COSTS IS READILY TO HAND. IN THE PAST IT HAS BEEN USUAL FOR THERE TO BE A ONE TO TWO MONTH DELAY IN OBTAINING SPENDING AND PROGRESS INFORMATION ON PROJECTS.
"THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TAKE QUICK REMEDIAL ACTION TO GET THINGS BACK ON TRACK BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE IS DONE, HE SAID.
F
"PLANS ARE NOW IN HAND TO PROVIDE A SOPHISTICATED, COMPUTER- BASED INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTFM TO LINK ALL THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS AND RELEVANT POLICY BRANCHES.
**A SIMILAR SYSTEM ALREADY IS IN PLACE TO DEAL WITH THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECTS. THIS, HOWEVER, ONLY HAS TO CATER FOR THE 10 MAJOR AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME PROJECTS AND IS ACCESSIBLE ONLY TO DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE NEW AIRPORT."
THOSE
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THE NEW SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE THE BASIC TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY SUPPORT THE TIMELY PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO TRACK PROGRESS AND COSTS ON THE OVER 2,000 ITEMS THAT MAKE UP THE REMAINING BULK OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
"THOSE
HAVING ACCESS TO THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE FAR WIDER THAN NOW. WHETHER SOME OF THE DATA MIGHT EVEN BE MADE ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT CAN ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
"DURING OUR PLANNING FOR THE NEW SYSTEM, WE SHALL BE SEEKING YOUR ADVICE ON HOW GOVERNMENT AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CAN CO- OPERATE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC BETTER.
"THE CLAIM HAS ALSO BEEN MADE THAT MANY PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO OBTAIN STATUTORY AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS.
"WHILE CLEARLY THERE IS A NEKD TO
FOLLOW PORMAL APPROVAL
PROCEDURES, DELAYS CAN OCCUR IF A CAREFULLY PLANNED APPROACH 15 NOT ADOPTED FROM THE OUTSET WHEN A PROJECT IS FIRST INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME," MR YEUNG SAID.
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