XN000022-1982-03-24 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982

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THE PERCENTAGE FIGURES FOR THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN 1977/78 AND 1981/82 DO COMPARE VERY UNFAVOURABLY WITH THAT FOR WORK DONE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE SAID.

BUT WHAT ONE HAS TO BEAR IN MIND WHEN MAKING THE COMPARISON IS THAT FROM THEIR FEES EARNED, OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS WOULD HAVE TO PAY NOT ONLY THE PERSONAL EMOLUMENT OF THEIR STAFF BUT ALSO STAFF FRINGE BENEFITS, ALL OFFICE OVERHEADS SUCH AS RENTS, RATES, ELECTRICITY, TELEPHONE CHARGES, ETC.

OVER AND ABOVE THESE, HE ADDED, THE CONSULTANTS WOULD ALSO HAVE TO MAKE A PROFIT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE IN THE BUSINESS.

+THEN A QUESTION MAY WELL BE ASKED WHETHER THERE IS ANY POINT IN KEEPING WORK IN-HOUSE WHEN IT COULD BE DONE MORE ECONOMICALLY BY CONSULTANTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THAT IS WHETHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SHOULD REMAIN IN OPERATION UNLESS THEIR PRODUCTIVITY

IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE IR COUNTERPARTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

+HERE THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ADVOCATES AND WHICH I WHOLE-HEARTEDLY SUPPORT, SHOULD APPLY JUST AS MUCH IN PUBLIC SERVICES AS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, + MR CHEN SAID.

TURNING TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF GOVERNMENT STAFF RESOURCES, HE DREW ATTENTION TO THE EXISTING REQUIREMENT WHEREBY BUILDING PLANS PREPARED BY AN AUTHORISED PERSON WHO IS BY STATUTE RECOGNISED AS COMPETENT TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE ARE SUBJECT TO SCRUTINY AND APPROVAL OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE BY A FELLOW PROFESSIONAL ON THE GOVERNMENT STAFF WHO MORE OFTEN THEN NOT MAY BE LESS EXPERIENCED THAN HIMSELF.

HE CONSIDERED THIS AN UNNECESSARY DUPLICATION OF EFFORT WHICH HAD RESULTED IN MANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OVER DELAYS IN GRANTING APPROVAL OF BUILDING PLANS AND THE ISSUING OF OCCUPATION PERMITS.

+THEREFORE I SUPPORT STRONGLY THE PROPOSAL PUT FORWARD BY THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW ORDINANCE UNDER WHICH ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, SURVEYORS AND ALL PROFESSIONALS PRACTISING IN THE BUILDING INDUSTRY SHALL BE REGISTERED AND WHICH WOULD IMPOSE UPON THEM A STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO CARRY THE TECHNICAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL WORK IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS.

+THE NEW ORDINANCE SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A PROVISION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DISCIPLINARY BODY WHICH WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO REGULATE THE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF MEMBERS OF THE RELEVANT PROFESSIONS AND ENSURE THAT THOSE WHO ABUSE THEIR PRIVILEGE WOULD BE APPROPRIATELY PENALISED WHICH MAY IN CERTAIN CASES INCLUDE DE-REGISTRATION,+ HE SAID.

HE REMARKED THAT IF THE PROFESSIONALS WERE GIVEN THEIR RIGHTFUL RESPONSIBILITIES AND WERE REQUIRED TO FULFIL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES BY LAW, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE COULD DISPENSE WITH ITS PLAN-APPROVAL FUNCTIONS AND ITS STAFF COULD THEN BE RE-DEPLOYED TO AREAS WHERE ADDITIONAL MANPOWER WAS NEEDED, SUCH AS SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS AGAINST UNAUTHORISED BUILDING WORKS.

/MR CHEN SAID: