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TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1984
LAFIS, WHICH USES THE LATEST HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TECHNIQUES, IS ALSO USED BY VARIOUS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND BY ORGANISATIONS IN AUSTRALIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
IN HONG KONG, DESIGNING OF THE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM STARTED IN JANUARY 1982, AND THE FIRST STAGE WAS INTRODUCED IN APRIL 1983 IN THE FINANCE BRANCH AND THREE DEPARTMENTS: MEDICAL AND HEALTH, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES AND PRINTING.
IN APRIL THIS YEAR, THE SYSTEM WAS EXTENDED TO THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH AND SEVEN MORE DEPARTMENTS: AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, EDUCATION, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, FIRE SERVICES, MARINE, NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT AND WATER SUPPLIES.
GOVERNMENT LAND TRANSPORT AGENCY, CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING CENTRE, IMMIGRATION, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE LINKED TO THE SYSTEM FROM APRIL 1985.
EXPLAINING THE USES OF LAFIS, MR EVANS SAID, IT ENABLES DEPARTMENTS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL EXPENDITURE AGAINST THE IR BUDGETS, UNDERTAKE BETTER FINANCIAL PLANNING, AND IDENTIFY HOW MUCH THE SERVICES THEY OFFER ARE COSTING THEM.+
AS FOR TREASURY, LAFIS REPLACES THE OLD GENERAL LEDGER SYSTEM IN PROVIDING BALANCE SHEETS, STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE AND OTHER CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTING REPORTS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR TREASURY, ON-LINE ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL DATABASE EXPEDITES THE IR CLOSING OF MONTHLY ACCOUNTS AND ALLOWS THEM TO INSPECT DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE ACCOUNTS AT ANY TIME.
HE SAID IMMEDIATE RETRIEVAL OF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION FROM LAF IS ALSO HELPS THE FINANCE BRANCH ANALYSE TRENDS AND PROJECT EXPENDITURE OUTTURNS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR. THIS ASSISTS PLANNING AND THE MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS.
+ THE SYSTEM ALSO HELPS IN BUDGET PREPARATION. WORK ING FIGURES ARE ENTERED AND CAN BE AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTED BEFORE THE OVERALL ANNUAL BUDGET IS FINALISED, HE SAID.
SO FAR THE GOVERNMENT HAS SPENT $1 MILLION ON SOFTWARE FOR THE SYSTEM, AND $3.25 MILLION ON ADDITIONAL HARDWARE.
A
DESIGN WORK IN TREASURY HAS INVOLVED 230 MAN MONTHS OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY AND DATA PROCESSING STAFF.
+
+LAF IS, HE EXPLAINED, IS CONTINUALLY BEING EXTENDED. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SYSTEM IS TO DEAL WITH THE COMPLEX REQUIREMENTS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME,+
/+FUTURE PLAli3,+
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