XN000022-1993-03-03 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE LOOKING AT HOW TO ENTRUST MORE OF

ITS PROJECTS TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES OR THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS LETTING MORE "DESIGN-AND-BUILD" OR TURNKEY

CONTRACTS.

HE HAS ASKED THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS TO TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES IN THE PIPELINE ARE:

A NEW REALISM WILL CHARACTERISE THE ESTIMATES OF PROJECT COSTS AND PROGRESS IN FUTURE.

TO HELP FULFIL HIS NEW RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING PUBLIC WORKS ARE DELIVERED ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS WILL ESTABLISH A MORE SOPHISTICATED, COMPUTER- BASED INFORMATION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS WILL LINK ALL THE WORKS DEPARTMENTS AND THE RELEVANT BRANCHES. IT SHOULD ENABLE PROBLEMS TO BE IDENTIFIED AND SOLVED AT AN EARLIER STAGE. IT WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE BEEN USED SUCCESSFULLY IN IMPLEMENTING THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME.

"HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THESE REMEDIAL MEASURES WILL ONLY TAKE US PART OF THE WAY. WHAT WE NEED IS A THOROUGH OVERHAUL OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES, PRACTICES AND SYSTEMS. OUR OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY OUR CAPACITY TO DELIVER PROJECTS ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET, HE SAID.

HE SAID HE HAD ASKED THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS TO CARRY OUT AN URGENT REVIEW AND TO REPORT TO HIM BY THE END OF JUNE.

THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS WILL LOOK BEYOND THE GOVERNMENT'S RANKS FOR ADVICE AND ALSO DRAW ON THE EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN WHICH HE HIMSELF HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE.

MR MACLEOD SAID: "I BELIEVE THIS POINT TO BE CRUCIAL: WE NEED TO APPLY PRIVATE SECTOR BEST PRACTICE TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR. AND THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS WILL OF COURSE TAKE PARTICULAR ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS OF MEMBERS."

AMONG THE KEY ISSUES ON WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS ASKED FOR CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE:

* THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SYSTEMS EMPLOYED SUCCESSFULLY IN MANAGING THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME MIGHT BE APPLIED TO NON- AIRPORT PROJECTS,

* THE SCOPE FOR GREATER USE OF THE DESIGN-AND-BUILD

TO CAPITAL WORKS PROJECTS,

APPROACH

THE GREATER DEGREE OF ENTRUSTMENT OF SUITABLE PROJECTS ΤΟ THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT MAY BE DESIRABLE, AND

* WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN STAFFING LEVELS, PROCEDURES AND

ORGANISATION.

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