XN000022-1984-03-14 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984

ACCOUNTING SYSTEM STRENGTHENED .

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THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES WILL REVIEW CONTINUALLY THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTANTS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SEEK THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS WHERE NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

GIVING EXAMPLES, SIR PHILIP SAID THE ACCOUNTING STAFF IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WERE GREATLY STRENGTHENED LAST YEAR AND MORE RECENTLY SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANTS WERE POSTED TO THE LANDS AND THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS.

AND CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE ACCOUNTING STAFF IN THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ACCOUNTANT IN THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE IN RESPONSE TO THE SIXTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1982-83.

THE MINUTE, TABLED TODAY, REPORTED THE ACTION TAKEN,

OR WAS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN, BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT.

SIR PHILIP RECALLED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PAC, THE HON S.L. CHEN, HAD EARLIER SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SECOND MORE COST ACCOUNTANTS FROM THE TREASURY TO DEPARTMENTS +TO ADVISE CONTROLLING OFFICERS AND PROMOTE AWARENESS OF WAYS TO MEASURE COST-BENEFITS AND IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY+.

TREASURY ACCOUNTANTS WERE ALREADY ON THE STAFF OF A

NUMBER OF THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS, SIR PHILIP SAID.

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERING ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT EACH NEW HEAD OF DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ISSUED A LETTER LAYING DOWN HIS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

HOWEVER, SIR PHILIP STRESSED THAT CONTROLLING OFFICERS ARE IN FACT, INFORMED IN VERY PRECISE TERMS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THROUGH THE FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE.

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