XN000022-1979-04-11 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979

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+IT SO HAPPENS THAT THIS YEAR IS THE 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RAISING OF THE REGIMENT. THE AUXILIARY POLICE HAVE BEEN ON THE BEAT FOR MANY YEARS. THIS YEAR HAS ALSO SEEN THE PRESENTATION OF A STANDARD TO THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES FOR ITS DISTINGUISHED RECORD, WHILST THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE IS 29 YEARS OLD AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICE IS IN ITS 27TH YEAR OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

+THESE FORCES HAVE CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO THE CAPACITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO RESPOND IN TIMES OF WAR AND PEACE, TO DISASTER AND TO THE RELIEF OF SUFFERING.+

HE STRESSED THAT IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, HE WAS GIVING PUBLIC RECOGNITION TO THEM.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

PWD TECHNICAL AUDIT SYSTEM IN OPERATION FOR SEVERAL YEARS

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A TECHNICAL AUDIT SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN OPERATION IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS, THE HON, DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE LAST MONTH,

REFERRING TO THE TECHNICAL AUDIT SYSTEM, MR. MCDONALD SAID: +ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AND ESTABLISHED AS A UNIT IN PWD HEADQUARTERS IT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED, WITH THE AGREEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, BY A MANAGEMENT SERVICES UNIT LOCATED IN HEADQUARTERS AND BY CONTRACT ADVISERS OPERATING IN INDIVIDUAL OFFICES IN ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL AUDIT ROLES,+

HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THESE OFFICERS COULD NOT BY THE IR FUNCTIONS OVERCOME THE PROBLEM OF ANTICIPATING COST ESCALATION, THEY COULD AND DID CONTRIBUTE MATERIALLY IN IMPROVING THE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT.

ON ANOTHER POINT RAISED BY THE HON. S.L. CHEN ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT ESTIMATES, MR. MCDONALD AGREED THAT IN MANY CASES THE FINAL COSTS WERE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE UNOFFICIAL WAS WELL AWARE THAT IN PREPARING PROJECT ESTIMATES NO ALLOWANCE FOR COST ESCALATION WAS MADE.

HE FURTHER EMPHASISED THAT THE RISES IN COSTS OF LABOUR AND MATERIALS WERE NOT THE ONLY FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO INCREASED PROJECT COSTS.