WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993
- 17-
CRITERIA FOR EMPLOYING CONSULTANTS BY EPD EXPLAINED
**
THE AVAILABILITY OF EXISTING RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT (EPD) REQUIRED ΤΟ UNDERTAKE A PARTICULAR PROJECT ARE THE CRITERIA USED ΤΟ DETERMINE WHETHER CONSULTANTS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND
MR
BY TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION LANDS,
THE HON GILBERT LEUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR EASON SAID A CONSULTANCY MIGHT BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE EXTRA STAFF FOR A PARTICULAR PROJECT OR TO CARRY OUT WORK TO MEET PRESCRIBED TIME SCALES AND COPE WITH FLUCTUATING DEMAND FOR RESOURCES.
CONSULTANTS MIGHT ALSO BE REQUIRED ΤΟ PROVIDE SPECIALIST EXPERTISE, TO GIVE INDEPENDENT ADVICE OR ΤΟ PERMIT A MULTI-
APPROACH, DISCIPLINARY
AS IN THE CASE OF THE
OF MAJORITY
EPD
CONSULTANCIES.
"CONSULTANTS ARE NOT ENGAGED IF SUITABLE EPD STAFF ARE AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICE OR EXPERTISE AGAINST THE SAME DEADLINES," HE SAID.
MR EASON SAID IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY AWARDED 40 CONSULTANCIES AT A TOTAL COST OF $380 MILLION.
"OF THIS FIGURE, $266 MILLION IS FOR CONSULTANCY FEES AND REMAINDER FOR INVESTIGATIONS.
THE
"EXPENDITURE TO DATE ON THESE PROJECTS IS $175 MILLION ON AND $87 MILLION ON INVESTIGATIONS, MR BASON SAID.
FEES
SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS NOT EDUCATIONALLY VIABLE
FIVE VERY SMALL RURAL SCHOOLS ENROLLING ONLY A FEW PUPILS SCHEDULED ΤΟ BE CLOSED THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID.
ALL AFFECTED PUPILS HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE PLACED IN SCHOOLS IN THE VICINITY, HE ADDED.
ARE
AND
OTHER
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ZACHARY WONG WAI- YIN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR CHAN SAID 20 SUCH SCHOOLS WERK CLOSED BETWEEN 1990 AND 1992.
HE EXPLAINED: "THE CURRENT POLICY ON VILLAGE OR RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS IS TO REPLACE THOSE OPERATING LESS THAN SIX CLASSES BY LARGER SCHOOLS SERVING A WIDER CATCHMENT AREA, WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
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**THE SMALL SCHOOLS ARE NOT CONSIDERED EDUCATIONALLY VIABLE TERMS OF FACILITIES AND THE ABILITY TO DELIVER A BROAD CURRICULUM.
IN
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/PRESENT USES
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