2
NON-ATTENDANCE AT LEGCO PANEL EXPLAINED
FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1993
RESPONDING TO STATEMENTS BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE LEGCO PANEL ON ECONOMIC SERVICES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD REFUSED TO ATTEND A MEETING THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING TO DISCUSS THE RECENT ADJUSTMENT TO WATER TARIFFS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PANEL HAD MISUNDERSTOOD THE ADMINISTRATION'S POSITION.
"REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
CONCERNED DEPARTMENTS AND BRANCHES, INCLUDING FINANCE BRANCH, WORKS BRANCH AND WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ALWAYS STAND READY TO RESPOND TO ANY ENQUIRIES FROM LEGISLATORS IN RELATION TO THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT" THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+
"THE CONVENOR OF THE PANEL, THE HONOURABLE STEVEN POON HAD. HOWEVER, AGREED WITH SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE FINANCE BRANCH DURING A DISCUSSION ON JUNE 23 THAT THEIR PRESENCE WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY AT THIS MORNING'S MEETING.
"THIS WAS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ADMINISTRATION'S VIEW THAT A LATER DATE MIGHT BE PREFERABLE IN VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S PROSPECTIVE NEGOTIATIONS OVER CHINA'S WATER SUPPLY TO HONG KONG. THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVED THAT MEMBERS COULD THEN BE GIVEN A FULLER AND SUBSTANTIVE BRIEFING.
"FOLLOWING THIS CONVERSATION, THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR ANDREW WELLS, WROTE A PERSONAL LETTER TO THE CONVENOR, NOTING THE UNDERSTANDING THAT HAD BEEN REACHED, AND INDICATING THE GOVERNMENT'S WILLINGNESS BOTH ΤΟ ATTEND AT AN ALTERNATIVE TIME AND TO ANSWER QUESTIONS IN WRITING.
THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT FINANCE BRANCH OFFICIALS RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE OMLEGCO SECRETARIAT AROUND 11.15 THIS MORNING REQUESTING
THAT,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE AGREEMENT REACHED, REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ADMINISTRATION SHOULD ATTEND BEFORE THE PANEL IMMEDIATELY.
"HOWEVER, NO OFFICER OF SUFFICIENT SENIORITY WAS AVAILABLE AT POINT-BLANK NOTICE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
W
ON THE COMMITTEE'S DECISION TO RE-CONVENE A MEETING NEXT THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ATTEND.
WEEK,
/3