XN000022-1985-07-09 — Page 18

TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1985

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USD'S MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AUDIT UNIT UNDER REVIEW

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THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS NOW HOLDING

DISCUSSIONS WITH THE FINANCE BRANCH OVER THE STRENGTHENING AND MANNING OF THE DEPARTMENT'S MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND AUDIT UNIT, AND AN ADDITIONAL SENIOR OFFICER IS EXPECTED TO JOIN THE TEAM IN SEPTEMBER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, DR KIM CHAM, TOLD THE URBAN COUNCIL'S MONTHLY MEETING TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY URBAN COUNCILLOR MRS MARGARET LI WHO HAD ASKED IF THERE WERE PLANS TO INCREASE THE STRENGTH AND FORCE OF THE UNIT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR WAYS AND MEASURES TO CUT COST WITHOUT CUTTING SERVICES.

ON THE WORK OF THE UNIT, DR CHAM REVEALED THAT A PRIORITY LIST OF THE COUNCIL'S SERVICES HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR STUDY. THIS LIST IS SUBJECT TO REGULAR REVIEW, IN ORDER TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS, AND TO REFLECT CHANGES IN EMPHASIS.

WHEN A NEW HEAD IS APPOINTED FOR THE UNIT IN SEPTEMBER, DR CHAM ADDED, THE OPPORTUNITY WOULD BE TAKEN TO REVIEW PROGRESS SO FAR AND TO SEE IF ADDITIONAL STUDIES COULD BE PUT IN HAND WITH THE STRENGTHENED TEAM.

TURNING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF APPOINTING OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT THESE STUDIES, DR CHAM SAID: THIS COULD CREATE DIFFICULTIES AND IT WOULD CALL FOR CAREFUL MANAGEMENT IN ORDER TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT.

+ IT WOULD ALSO ADD TO THE DEPARTMENT'S TASK OF DIRECTING THE WORK OF SEPARATELY ORGANISED STUDIES.

+BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT'S IN-HOUSE TEAM IS GOING TO BE STRENGTHENED SHORTLY THIS MAY NOT BE AN OPPORTUNE TIME TO CONSIDER BRINGING IN OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS FOR THIS WORK AT THIS MOMENT, BUT THIS NEED WILL BE REVIEWED AGAIN TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR,+ HE ADDED.

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