XN000022-1986-03-19 — Page 53

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1986

CONSULTANTS ARE COMPETENT AND EXPERT PERSONNEL WHO ARE CHOSEN AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAREFUL SELECTION PROCEDURE AND ARE LIKELY TO PROPOSE IMPRACTICAL SOLUTIONS,+ HE SAID.

-THEY ARE USUALLY APPOINTED UNDER WELL DEFINED TERMS OF REFERENCE WITH A DETAILED BRIEF TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND OF THE CASE THEY ARE EMPLOYED TO DEAL WITH.

+ IN ADDITION, THEIR WORK IS REVIEWED BY THE GOVERNMENT AT REGULAR STAGES THROUGHOUT THE CONSULTANCY, + HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, W CHAN SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT BOUND TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OR FINDINGS OF ANY CONSULTANT.

+THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES NOT TO ACCEPT SOME OR ALL OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS PUT TO IT.

+THE REASONS ARE VARIOUS AND INCLUDE SITUATIONS SUCH AS THE EMERGENCE OF NEW FACTORS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE CONSULTANTS'S REPORT, UNFAVOURABLE RESPONSES FROM THE PUBLIC DURING THE CONSULTATION STAGE, OR THE LEVEL OF COSTS CANNOT DE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO GOVERNMENT THROUGH REVENUE.+

MR CHAN REVEALED THAT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS THE GOVERNMENT HAD PAID $1 495 MILLION IN FEES TO CONSULTANTS F WHICH $1 408 MILLION WAS PAID TO THOSE COMMISSIONED BY Tr.. LANDS AND WORKS GROUP.

COMPARABLE STANDARD USED TO ASSESS OVERSEAS DEGREES *****

THE MAIN CONSIDERATION IN THE RECOGNITION OF OVERSEAS DEGREES FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPOINTING CIVIL SERVANTS IS WHETHER THEY ARE OF COMPARABLE STANDARD AND STANDING TO HONG KONG DEGREES, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+NO DISTINCTION IS MADE BETWEEN COMMONWEALTH AND NON- COMMONWEALTH DEGREES,+ HE NOTED.

SIR DAVID REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR SAID A PANEL OF ADVISORS COMPRISING YEPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TAO LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, THE EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY; EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH HAD BEEN ET UP TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON THE DETAILED CRITERIA TO BE USED IN ASSESSING OVERSEAS QUALIFICATIONS AND TO CONSIDER APPEALS AGAINST DECISIONS WHEN NECESSARY.

+ THE ADVICE FROM OVERSEAS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS, AS WELL AS ESTABLISHED EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES LIC SOUGHT, HE ADDED.