XN000022-1983-03-24 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983

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THE GROUP HAD A MEMBERSHIP OF 10 SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HE SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONTROLLED PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN THE SENSE THAT NO PROJECT COULD BE PLACED IN CATEGORY A - AND THUS PROCEED TO TENDER AND CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

BEFORE THIS, HE EXPLAINED, CONTROL WAS EXERCISED THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE IN RESPECT OF APPROVAL TO PLACE PROJECTS IN CATEGORY AB - AND THUS ENABLED SITE INVESTIGATION, DETAILED DESIGN AND THE PREPARATION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS TO PROCEED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT UNLESS A PROJECT WAS PLACED IN CATEGORY C BY THE PUBLIC WORKS VETTING COMMITTEE, OR INTO CATEGORY B BY THE PUBLIC WORKS PRIORITY COMMITTEE, IT COULD NOT RECEIVE ANY FORMAL CONSIDERATION BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS BECAUSE BOTH THE VETTING COMMITTEE AND THE PRIORITIES COMMITTEE HAD ONLY OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP.

+PROGRESS OF ALL PROJECTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS MONITORED BY THE PROJECT STEERING GROUP AND SOME UNOFFICIAL PARTICIPATION AT THIS LEVEL WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ROLE OF THE UNOFFICIALS AS PERCEIVED BY YOURSELF, SIR, IN YOUR ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL AT THE OPENING OF THE CURRENT SESSION.

+ IT WOULD PERHAPS ALSO ASSIST THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS EFFORTS 'TO DO HIS BEST' TO QUOTE HIM, PROBABLY UNFAIRLY, IN CONTEXT,+ MR BROWN SAID.

ON SUBVENTIONS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS, MR BROWN HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO ENSURE PUBLIC FUNDS WERE USED TO THE MAXIMUM EFFECT.

HE NOTED THAT THE BUDGET ESTIMATES INCLUDED A NUMBER OF SUBVENTIONS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS.

WITH THE FORMATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, HE SAID, IT SEEMED ONLY LOGICAL THAT IT SHOULD BE GIVEN A ONE-LINE VOTE TO ADMINISTER IN A SIMILAR MANNER AS THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DOES FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.

+A ONE-LINE VOTE WOULD ENABLE THOSE BEST QUALIFIED TO JUDGE TO DISTRIBUTE AVAILABLE FUNDS TO DESERVING PROJECTS, INCLUDING PERHAPS SOME LESS PROMINENT ART FORMS WHICH THE COUNCIL NONETHELESS CONSIDERS WORTHY OF ENCOURAGEMENT, HE SAID.

+ IT WOULD ALSO INCIDENTALLY MAKE IT EASIER TO SUPPORT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, WHICH RECEIVES SUPPORT ON AN ANNUAL SUBVERTED BASIS, NOT WITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT LOGISTICS DEMAND IT PLANS ITS ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTATIONS ON A LONGER TERM BASIS.+

MR BROWN EARLIER POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS.

HE FELT THAT ITS NO LONGER APPROPRIATE TO BASE BUDGETS ON +MAKING ENDS MEET WITH AS LITTLE TROUBLE AS POSSIBLE+.