XN000022-1977-04-20 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1977

HE SAID DETAILS OF ALL PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME COULD BE SEEN IN THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE THE HISTORY AND PRESENT POSITION ON EACH PROJECT IS AVAILABLE FOR READY REFERENCE FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT HEADS OF EXPENDITURE PROGRESS ON EACH PROJECT IS MENTIONED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORTS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THE PRIORITY RATING OF ALL PROJECTS ARE RECORDED IN THE PRIORITY SCHEDULES- AND FINALLY DETAILS OF THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR THE NEW TOWNS ARE MENTIONED IN THE NEW TOWNS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

+ IT IS UNREALISTIC, AND INDEED INAPPROPRIATE, TO EXPECT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE TO PERFORM THIS FUNCTION AS WELL AS THEIR FUNCTION OF ASSESSING THE CONTENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AND RECOMMENDING UPGRADINGS ALTHOUGH MEMBERS CAN, AND DO, ASK ABOUT PROGRESS ON INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITY MUST LIE WITH SECRETARIES IN CHARGE OF PROGRAMME AREAS AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, AND WHILE THE FINANCE BRANCH SHOULD AND DOES EXERCISE AN OVERALL MONITORING FUNCTION, IT MUST REMAIN THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THAT +INTENTIONS ARE FULFILLED.+

FINANCIAL SECRETARY ATTENDING ADB MEETING

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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, LEFT HONG KONG THIS EVENING FOR MANILA AT THE HEAD OF A DELEGATION TO ATTEND THE 10TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD-OF-GOVERNORS OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, OF WHICH HE IS VICE-CHAIRMAN.

INCLUDED IN THE DELEGATION WAS MR. D.W.A. BLYE, SECRETARY

FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS.

THE MEETING STARTS TOMORROW AND LASTS THROUGH TO THE WEEKEND.

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