19.
I wish to assure Members that the Administration attaches great importance to the recommendations of the PAC, and I am pleased that our positive attitude is appreciated by the Committee. The pace at which we can resolve an issue depends, to a large extent, on the nature of the problem s and the practicability of the solutions. On occasions, we may need to modify earlier proposals and to seek alternative remedial or improvement measures as the situations evolve.
On the management of community centres and community halls to which Mr Li referred, the intended transfer of these facilities from the Home Affairs Department to the Social Welfare Department has not yet taken place because resources have had to be devoted to other more pressing welfare needs. In the meantime, Home Affairs Department has been working with the local communities in promoting the use of these facilities which are now generally better utilised. In the light of operating experience, we are reconsidering whether the management responsibilities of the community centres and community halls should remain with the Home Affairs Department.
We have reviewed progress on the two other outstanding issues highlighted by Mr Li, namely "police indebtedness" and "abuse of the policy governing registration and licensing of goods vehicles". Members will note from the Government Minute that we have, in fact, taken positive steps to address the problems and have achieved noticeable results.
Advances to UNHCR
In his speech, Mr Li espoused the obligations of the British Government towards Hong Kong over the Vietnamese refugee/migrant issue. He also asked the Financial Secretary to immediately cease charging to advance accounts further expenses incurred for the care and maintenance of VMs, and to seek Finance Committee's prior approval for such expenditure.
The British Government has responded to the views of the PAC on the obligations of the British Government towards Hong Kong in resolving the Vietnamese refugee/migrant problem. This is given in paragraph 64 of the Government Minute. I wish to assure Members that we shall continue to liaise closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with a view to securing full repayment of the debt as soon as possible. With a diminishing VM population, and our aim to close all VM detention centres within 1997, we see merit in retaining the status quo of meeting the expenses for the care and maintenance of VMs through advance accounts.