WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1994
21
SUFFICIENT COURT INTERPRETERS FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGES
* * * *
THERE ARE SUFFICIENT COURT INTERPRETERS TO DEAL WITH INVOLVING LANGUAGES OTHER THAN CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
CASES
THE BUT
JUDICIARY IS CONTINUING ΤΟ ENLARGE THE POOL BY RECRUITING MORE QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN
A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MOSES CHENG MO- LEVELS CHI, MRS CHAN SAID OF THE 710,345 CASES DEALT WITH AT VARIOUS
AND
OR TRIBUNALS LAST YEAR, 6,165 CASES COURTS OF INVOLVED LANGUAGES OTHER THAN CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
0.86
PER CENT
AT PRESENT 547 FREELANCE INTERPRETERS HAVE REGISTERED WITH JUDICIARY TO DEAL WITH SUCH CASES.
BEFORE
A
FREELANCE
INTERPRETER IS
THE
WILL BR HE IS
HE REGISTERED,
AND WILL INTERVIEWED
THAT UNDERGO AN EXAMINATION TO ENSURE PROFICIENT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND THE OTHER LANGUAGE WITH WHICH HE CLAIMS TO BE CONVERSANT.
STRINGENT CONTROL ON USE OF DB FUNDS
* * *
STRINGENT CONTROL HAD BEEN EXERCISED TO ENSURE THAT THE USE AND DISBURSEMENT OF DISTRICT BOARD (DB) FUNDS WERE WITHIN THE AMBIT OF VOTE AND THE EXPENDITURE GUIDELINES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT, MR SUEN EXPLAINED THAT THE FUNDS WERE SPENT ON SPECIFIC PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE DB BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT.
HE
SAID THE ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES FOR THE DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUNDS WERE MODELLED ON GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING, STORES, AND GENERAL AND OTHER REGULATIONS.
HE SAID: "CONTROLS INVOLVING CHECKS AND COUNTER-CHECKS ARE EXERCISED BY DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF FROM THE INCEPTION TO COMPLETION OF A PROJECT TO MININISE CHANCES OF ABUSE OR MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS."
DISBURSEMENT OF THE FUND IS MADE ON THE PRODUCTION OF DULY CERTIFIED SUPPORTING RECEIPTS AND ONLY AFTER CHECKS HAVE BEEN MADE BY DISTRICT OFFICER STAFF THAT THE CLAIMS ARE WITHIN THE ORIGINAL AMBIT APPROVED BY THE DB AND THAT THE EXPENDITURE IS IN ORDER.
IN CASE OF DISCREPANCIES FROM THE ORIGINAL APPROVAL. MR SURN SAID THE DB WOULD BE ASKED TO ENDORSE THE DISCREPANCIES AND TO SATISFY ITSELF THAT THE EXPENDITURE WAS IN ORDER BEFORE PAYMENT WERE PAID.
NOTING 'THAT THE DISTRICT OFFICER PLAYED A VETTING ROLE TO ENSURE FUNDING AND ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES WERE FULLY OBSERVED,
HE STRESSED THAT DISTRICT OFFICER STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR CLOSELY THE USE OF DB FUNDS.
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