XN000022-1984-04-25 — Page 23

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1984

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MR ROWLANDS ALSO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO CREATE POSTS OF TREASURY ACCOUNTANT IN ALL DEPARTMENTS TO IMPROVE EXPENDITURE CONTROL AS SUGGESTED BY MR POON.

IN RESPONSE TO A POINT RAISED BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG ON PERFORMANCE MEASURES, MR ROWLANDS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT SUCH MEASURES WERE WIDELY USED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

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HOWEVER HE SAID, THERE WAS SCOPE FOR EXTENDING THE USE OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES, PARTICULARLY TO ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL OFFICE WORK.

MR ROWLANDS ALSO TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDIES AIMING AT EXPENDITURE REDUCTION AND IMPROVED SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC HAD BEEN COMPLETED DURING THE PAST YEAR WHILE SOME WERE STILL IN PROGRESS.

THEY INCLUDE VALUE-FOR-MONEY STUDIES, PRODUCTIVITY STUDIES AND CORRUPTION PREVENTION STUDIES.

UNDER THE VALUE-FOR-MONEY STUDIES, ACHIEVED SAVINGS TO DATE TOTAL ABOUT $120 MILLION AND POTENTIAL SAVINGS OF SEVERAL HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.

MR ROWLANDS ALSO SAID THAT A GREAT DEAL HAD BEEN DONE IN RECENT YEARS ON MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING AND THERE WAS A NEED TO DO MORE.

ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS, MR ROWLANDS SAID THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD ASSURED HIM A DECISION TO EMPLOY THEM WAS NEVER TAKEN LIGHTLY AND THAT APPROVAL WAS NOT GIVEN WITHOUT GOOD REASON.

IN ADDITION, MR ROWLANDS SAID THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WOULD BE KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONSULTANTS IN THE ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FIELDS, WITH MORE WORK EXPECTED TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN-HOUSE NOW THAT THE STAFFING SITUATION IN THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS HAD IMPROVED.

MR ROWLANDS ALSO EXPLAINED THAT PERSONNEL-RELATED EXPENSES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COVER THE COSTS OF RECRUITING, TRAINING, HOUSING AND PROVIDING FOR PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES.

HE SAID, +OF THE TOTAL PROVISION OF $2.15 BILLION, ABOUT 46 PER CENT IS FOR PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES WHILE 43 PER CENT IS FOR THE PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATION IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

→THE PROVISION FOR PENSIONS IS A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, WHILE THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITIES IS A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.

+AS REGARDS ACCOMMODATION, THE PROVISION IN THE ESTIMATES IS NO MORE THAN IS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FOR VARIOUS ALLOWANCES AND PAYMENTS APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH POLICIES APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.+

+ THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF EDUCATION, PASSAGE AND OTHER ALLOWANCES PROVIDED FOR UNDER THIS COMPONENT OF EXPENDITURE,+ HE SAID.

/AS FOR