XN000022-1977-01-19 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1977

NO DEF INITE PLANS FOR A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

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CONSIDERABLE THOUGHT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE POSSIBLE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ALTHOUGH NO DEFINITE PLANS HAVE YET BEEN FORMULATED, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. F.W. LI WHO HAD ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD ANY DEFINITE PLANS FOR SUCH A COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL THROUGH THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE WERE SPENT IN THE WAY INTENDED.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE PRACTICE ELSEWHERE HAD BEEN RESEARCHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT AND HE ENVISAGED THAT SUCH A COMMITTEE WOULD BE A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL, WITH THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES IN ATTENDANCE.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +WE HAVE NOT YET WORKED OUT JUST HOW SUCH A COMMITTEE MIGHT FIT INTO OUR EXISTING CONSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS, BUT THE A IM WOULD BE TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF THIS COUNCIL'S CONTROL OVER THE USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS WHICH BEGINS WITH THE PASSING OF THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE.

+THIS WOULD BE DONE BY, FIRST, EXAMINING THE ACCOUNTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND POSSIBLY THOSE OF OTHER ORGANISATIONS FINANCED WHOLLY OR PARTLY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS.

+AND THIS IS DONE, SECONDLY, BY ENQUIRING INTO MATTERS RAISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN HIS REPORTS TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE ACCOUNTS WHICH REPORTS ARE LAID BEFORE THIS COUNCIL. +

+THE COMMITTEE WOULD REPORT ON ITS ENDEAVOURS TO THIS COUNCIL, + HE ADDED,

CAKESHOP ROBBERIES

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WITHIN THE LAST 15 MONTHS THE SEVEN CAKESHOPS OPERATED BY MARIA BAKERY LIMITED WERE ROBBED ON 22 OCCASIONS AND ONE OF THEM WAS ROBBED SIX TIMES DURING THE PERIOD.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS FROM THE HON. JAMES WU.

+TO MINIMISE THE CHANCES OF FURTHER ROBBERIES IN THIS CHAIN CAKESHOPS, THE PREVENTION OF CRIME OFFICER CONCERNED HAS INTERVIEWED VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY'S STAFF ON SECURITY PROCEDURES,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

+ON-SITE INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE OF SOME OF THE PREMISES AND THE POLICE HAVE ALSO INVESTIGATED THE CASES IN CONSIDERABLE DEPTH AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO SO, HE ADDED. UNFORTUNATELY, TO DATE NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE.+

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