3.
Purchases in 1996 were obtained from over 35 countries. The United States was the principal manufacturing source of the goods purchased, supplying goods valued at HK$1,888 million, representing 40 per cent of total purchases. The major items of US origin were computer products, medical and hospital equipment, telecommunications systems and pharmaceutical preparations. The US has been the leading source of manufactured goods supplied to the Hong Kong Government since
1986.
Other important sources of purchases were the United Kingdom, China, Germany and Hong Kong. Products of local manufacture included furniture items, pharmaceutical preparations, hospital consumables, household disposals and sundries.
"The Hong Kong Government adopts an open and fair procurement policy by purchasing the goods and services that represent best value for money, irrespective of country of origin," the Director of Government Supplies, Mr Nigel Shipman, said.
Record savings of HK$146 million were achieved through price negotiations. The Hong Kong Government buys principally through open competitive tendering and prices are only negotiated in special circumstances.
"Through the sale of confiscated goods, surplus or unserviceable government stores and unclaimed parcels, HK$63 million was added to Government revenue," Mr Shipman noted.
End
Native-speaking English teachers sought
The Education Department is recruiting native-speaking English teachers for secondary schools for the school year commencing this September.
The recruitment is part of a Native-speaking English Teachers (NETs) Scheme which followed the Government's acceptance of a recommendation in Education Commission Report No. 6 that schools should be encouraged to employ on local terms more native English speakers who are qualified English language teachers to teach the subject.
year.
The Scheme will be in its second year of implementation in the 1997-98 school