XN000022-1981-01-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1981

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WANTS BETTER RESPONSE

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THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S RESPONSE TO ITS SECOND REPORT, THE HON LI FOOK-WO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+WHEN I ADDRESSED THIS COUNCIL LAST JANUARY, I EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE IN REPLY TO OUR SECOND REPORT WOULD BE AS SATISFACTORY AS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO OUR FIRST REPORT.

+1 REGRET THIS HOPE WAS NOT FULLY REALISED, HE SAID.

MR LI WAS SPEAKING AT THE TABLING OF THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1980 AND OF THE THIRD REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON WHICH HE SERVES AS CHAIRMAN.

+AS THE MINUTE ITSELF INDICATED, ACTION ON VARIOUS MATTERS REMAINED OUTSTANDING, AND IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY FOR THE COMMITTEE TO MONITOR PROGRESS ON THESE ITEMS.

+AFTER MEETING TO CONSIDER THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE WE OBTAINED A FURTHER PROGRESS REPORT, AND NOTE THAT FRESH INTERNAL INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED REGARDING THE FOLLOW-UP PROCEDURES TO BE OBSERVED BOTH IN REGARD TO OUR REPORTS AND THOSE OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT,+ HE SAID.

MR LI NOTED THAT STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE KEPT REGULARLY INFORMED OF PROGRESS ON OUTSTANDING ITEMS.

IN THEIR LATEST REPORT, MR LI SAID, THE UNOFFICIALS HAVE MADE TWO GENERAL CONCLUSIONS WHICH THEY BELIEVE +ARE OF FUNDAMENTAL

IMPORTANCE TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE AND TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE+.

THE FIRST REFERS TO DELAYS IN DECISION-MAKING AND INACTION IN THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS.

+ REGRET TO SAY THAT IN OUR EXAMINATION OF BRANCH SECRETARIES AND HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS WE WERE FREQUENTLY LEFT WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT PUBLIC BUSINESS IS OFTEN NOT PURSUED WITH A PROPER SENSE OF URGENCY, HE EXPLAINED.

+OUR SECOND CONCLUSION IS OF GENERAL COMPLACENCY TOWARDS THE EXTENT TO WHICH MATERIAL AND STAFFING DEFICIENCIES CAN BE OVERCOME, OR AT LEAST SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED, BY IMPROVEMENTS IN STAFF PRODUCTIVITY.

+WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT SEEK TO RAISE ITS PERFORMANCE IN BOTH THESE AREAS,+ MR LI SAID.

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