XN000022-1985-01-23 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1985

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+1 DO NOT THINK THAT THIS IS TOO MUCH TO ASK EITHER OF THE ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS SUCH TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AS OUR GOVERNMENT, OR OF THE OFFICERS WHO CARRY THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC MONEYS, HE ADDED.

MR CHAN SAID THE COMMITTEE HEARD WITH PLEASURE THIS YEAR OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH WERE BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THOROUGHLY MODERN ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND IN PARTICULAR THAT THIS NEW SCHEME HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING THAT GREATER SENSE OF FINANCIAL AWARENESS AND BUDGET CONSCIOUSNESS IN MANAGERS.

+BUT AM AWARE THAT THE LEDGER ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL TAKE TIME TO EXTEND TO EVERY CORNER OF THIS LARGE ADMINISTRATION.

+NOR DO I THINK THAT IT IS THE SOLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WHICH SEE.

+FINANCIAL AWARENESS CANNOT BEGIN AND END WITH ONE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM,+ MR CHAN SAID.

HE SAID THIS HAD BEEN A NOTABLE YEAR IN THE SHORT HISTORY OF THE COMMITTEE, WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME HAD HELD ITS MEETINGS IN PUBLIC TO HEAR THE EVIDENCE GIVEN BY CONTROLLING OFFICERS.

+ I SHOULD LIKE TO SAY STRAIGHTAWAY THAT I CONSIDER THIS WAS A MOST SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT, AND ITS SUCCESS WAS DUE NOT LEAST TO THE VERY FORTHCOMING AND CONSTRUCTIVE ATTITUDE ADOPTED BY CONTROLLING OFFICERS WHO APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.+

THE UNOFFICIALS, HE SAID, FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT THIS WOULD HELP THE PUBLIC TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE WAY IN WHICH ITS LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS CARRIED OUT THEIR DUTIES.

MR CHAN ADDED THAT THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ACTED AS A STIMULUS NOT ONLY FOR THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS BUT FOR THE COMMITTEE ITSELF TO EXAMINE AND DISCUSS THOROUGHLY THE ISSUES PRESENTED IN THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT'S REPORT.

+1 AM CONVINCED THAT PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ARE HERE TO STAY, AND IF ANY OF MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES FEEL APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE INTENTION TO COMMENCE PUBLIC HEARINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN MARCH, WOULD REASSURE THEM THAT THE EXTRA EFFORT AND TENSION INVOLVED IS WELL WORTHWHILE, HE SAID.

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