XN000022-1990-01-10 — Page 20

J

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1990

18

ENSURING COST EFFECTIVENESS OF CONSULTANTS

*

FOR

THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF A CONSULTANT ENGAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS ENSURED, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, BY PROPER MANAGEMENT BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF OF THE CLIENT DEPARTMENT, THE SECRETARY PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE

AND

"PERFORMANCE OF CONSULTANTS IS REGULARLY MONITORED REPORTED. SUITABILITY FOR FURTHER GOVERNMENT WORK DEPENDS ON EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE ON EXISTING OR RECENT ASSIGNMENTS, MR BARNES SAID IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON DAVID CHEUNG.

**

"WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THE OVERALL EMPLOYMENT OF CONSULTANTS WITH A VIEW TO DEVISING A SYSTEM FOR PAYMENT AND CONTROL WHICH WILL ENSURE EVEN GREATER INCENTIVE TO ACHIEVE EFFICIENT, COST EFFECTIVE WORKS WHICH AT THE SAME TIME FULLY COMPLY WITH REQUIRED STANDARDS.'

Th

MR BARNES SAID THE HIRING OF CONSULTANTS WAS, LIKE THE

EMPLOYMENT OF STAFF, A COMMERCIAL PROCESS AND WAS ONLY DONE GOVERNMENT COULD SHOW FIRSTLY THAT IT NEEDED A JOB DONE AND, THAT THE BEST WAY OF DOING THAT PARTICULAR JOB WAS CONSULTANTS RATHER THAN EITHER USING EXISTING STAFF ADDITIONAL STAFF.

OR BY

WHEN THE SECONDLY, BY HIRING EMPLOYING

THE SELECTION, APPOINTMENT AND REMUNERATION OF CONSULTANTS WAS SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY.

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING SPECIALISTS REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THE APPOINTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS TO THE BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL. THIS WAS INDEPENDENT OF THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY'S APPROVAL.

MR BARNES SAID THE NEED TO EMPLOY CONSULTANTS BEFORE THE APPROVAL OF A SELECTION BOARD WAS SOUGHT.

WAS ESTABLISHED

USUALLY THE NEED AROSE WHERE THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN THE PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT, OR WHERE EXISTING STAFF RESOURCES WERE INADEQUATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO UNDERTAKE THE WORK.

"BUT THERE MAY ALSO BE OTHER REASONS, SUCH AS ΤΟ ACCELERATE TIMESCALES OR TO COPE WITH A FLUCTUATING DEMAND FOR RESOURCES.

"THE AUTHORITY TO USE CONSULTANTS IS USUALLY OBTAINED THROUGH

A SUBMISSION TO THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE JUSTIFICATION IS PROVIDED," HE SAID.

AT WHICH TIME FULL

MR BARNES SAID FUNDS FOR EMPLOYING CONSULTANTS MIGHT BE PROVIDED THROUGH INCLUSION OF THE PROJECT IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, FROM A BLOCK VOTE FOR SUCH

PURPOSE, OR FROM A RECURRENT

VOTE.

/UNDER NO

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