XN000022-1993-02-10 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1993

AUDIT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993

IN

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO MAKE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO REFERENCE THE AUDIT ORDINANCE AND THE EMPLOYEES RFTRAINING ORDINANCE ΤΟ THE GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT. OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

+

BILL 1993,

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE AUDIT (AMENDMENT ) THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SZE, SAID THE AMENDMENT WAS NEEDED BECAUSE THE GOVERNOR WOULD NO LONGER BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

AMENDMENTS TO THE LETTERS PATENT AND ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS ΤΟ EFFECT THAT CHANGE HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE PRIVY COUNCIL AND WOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON FEBRUARY 18 AND 19.

AND

THE BILL DOES NOT SEEK TO CHANGE ANY OF THE PRINCIPLES PHILOSOPHIES CURRENTLY REFLECTED IN THE AUDIT ORDINANCE (AND THE EMPLOYEES RETRAINING ORDINANCE).

AS FAR AS THE TERMS ARE CONCERNED, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OR LOGICAL PROCEDURE OTHERWISE REQUIRE, ALL REFERENCES TO "THE GOVERNOR" ARE TAKEN TO MEAN "THE GOVERNOR QUA GOVERNOR" AND ALL REFERENCES то "THE GOVERNOR AS PRESIDENT" ARE TAKEN TO MEAN *THE PRESIDENT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL"

누가

MR SZE SAID SOME CHANGES WERE NECESSARY FOR THE RATIONALISATION OF THE PROCEDURES LEADING TO THE LAYING OF AUDIT REPORTS AND RELATED DOCUMENTS IN THE LEGCO AS SET OUT IN THE RELEVANT SECTIONS ORDINANCES.

OF

THE

PROVIDE

OF HIS

CLAUSE 3 AMENDS SECTION 12 OF THE AUDIT ORDINANCE ΤΟ THAT REPORTS PREPARED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT IN RESPECT EXAMINATION AND AUDIT OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ΤΟ THE PRESIDENT WITHIN THE PERIOD SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE OR SUCH PERIOD AS THE GOVERNOR MAY DETERMINE.

LONGER

SHALL

THEREAFTER, IT WILL BE THE PRESIDENT WHO WILL BE EMPOWERED то VARY THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH THE REPORT AND RELATED STATEMENTS BE LAID BEFORE LEGCO AND SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

VARY THE SHALL

IT IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT WHO WILL RE EMPOWERED ΤΟ PERIOD WITHIN WHICH THE REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE BE LAID BEFORE LEGCO AND SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

CLAUSE 5 AMENDS SECTION 16(2) OF THE AUDIT ORDINANCE то PROVIDE THAT THE GOVERNOR, UPON RECEIPT OF A REPORT SUBMITTED то HIM UNDER SUBSECTION (1) AND IF SO REQUESTED BY THE DIRECTOR, SHOULD AUTHORISE THE DIRECTOR TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF SAME TO THE PRESIDENT ΤΟ ENABLE THE LATTER TO PROCEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 12(2) AND (2A).

THIS CHANGE WILL RATIONALISE THE PROCEDURE IN

THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE GOVERNOR IS THE PERSON RECEIVING THE REPORT BUT NOT THE ONE TO LAY IT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 12(2) AND (2A) AS AMENDED.

/A CONSEQUENTIAL