XN000022-1978-01-25 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1978

APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT IT IS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEES SHOULD BE DRAWN FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SECRETARIES OR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENTS OF SUITABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO THE NETWORK OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES.

MR. LI POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THOSE STATUTORY COMMITTEES WHICH STIPULATE MEMBERSHIP OF SOME PROFESSIONAL OR SPECIALISED BODY, IT IS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT +REPRESENTATION ON COMMITTEES SHOULD GENERALLY BE DRAWN FROM A WIDE RANGE OF PERSONS FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.+

HE ADDED THAT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SECRETARY OR HEAD OF DEPARTMENT WHO IS MOST CONCERNED WITH THE PRINCIPAL AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMITTEE, AND WHO WOULD CONSULT OFFICERS OF HIS BRANCH OR DEPARTMENT.

+HE MIGHT ALSO CONSULT THOSE UNOFFICIALS WHO ARE ALREADY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORK OF THAT COMMITTEE. HE ALSO SEEKS ADVICE FROM THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, PARTICULARLY ON THE APPOINTMENT OF NON-PROFESSIONAL PERSONS TO HIS COMMITTEES SINCE THE LATTER, AND MEMBERS OF HIS GROUP OF DEPARTMENTS MAINTAIN A CLOSE CONTÁCT WITH MANY ORGANISATIONS, GROUPS AND LOCAL INDIVIDUALS, + MR. LI SAID.

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SETTING UP OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS WORKING ON DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR THE SETTING UP OF A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ONCE THIS HAS BEEN DONE A MOTION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE THAT A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AS A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON, F.W. LI.

+ IT IS INTENDED THAT THE COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE JURISDICTION TO CONSIDER AND COMMENT AS IT MAY THINK FIT ON SUCH MATTERS AS ARE CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON ANY ACCOUNTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, OR ON SUCH METHODS AS MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE LAID BEFORE HONOURABLE MEMBERS, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT IT WAS PROPOSED TO SET UP THE COMMITTEE IN TIME TO CONSIDER THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT'S ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1978.

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