XN000022-1988-05-04 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1988

HE SAID THAT OVER THE PAST 15 OR

SQ YEARS, SEVERAL MIDDLE-RANKING OFFICIALS HAD BEEN SECONDED TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR. TWO WERE SECONDED AT PRESENT AND THE NUMBER WOULD BE INCREASED TO FOUR A YEAR IF POSSIBLE.

"HOWEVER, WE WOULD PREFER RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS AND THE DIFFICULTY SEEMS TO BE TO FIND PRIVATE FIRMS WHO WILL RELEASE STAFF FOR SECONDMENT TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS," HE SAID.

MR JACOBS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE PERMANENT LOSS OF TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED STAFF TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR WAS A DIFFERENT MATTER.

ABOUT THIS AS ANY OTHER

"THE GOVERNMENT IS AS

EMPLOYER WOULD BE," HE SAID.

CONCERNED

"WHERE, OCCASIONALLY, THE DEPARTURE OF A SENIOR OFFICER MAY LEAD TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WE WILL TAKE ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT SUCH CONFLICT DOES NOT OCCUR.

די

WOULD ADD THAT, IN GENERAL, A REASONABLE PERIOD OF SANITISATION SHOULD SUFFICE," HE SAID.

HIKTA SUBVENTION ARRANGEMENT HAS FLEXIBILITY

NEW SUBVENTION ARRANGEMENTS WILL BRING THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION IN LINE WITH OTHER SIMILAR BODIES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

BILL

1988, MR JACOBS

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION REFERRED TO THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, SAYING THAT THE ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE COUNCIL REQUIRED THAT ITS BUDGET AND PROGRAMME BE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR EACH YEAR.

RECOMMENDATIONS

HONG

OF

THE

"A SIMILAR REQUIREMENT WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED FOR THE KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION IN PURSUANCE OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, HE SAID.

"THERE IS, OF COURSE, NO QUESTION OF KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION FOR MORE STRINGENT THOSE RELATING TO OTHER SIMILAR BODIES.

SINGLING OUT THE FINANCIAL CONTROLS

HONG THAN

"INDEED, THE