XN000022-1993-04-08 — Page 10

THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1993

9

"IN DECIDING ON THE $150 MILLION DIVIDEND PAYMENT BY KCRC FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1992, IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT THIS WOULD NOT AFFECT THE CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CORPORATION'S SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME OR HAVE ANY EFFECT ON ITS FARE ADJUSTMENT IN 1993 WHICH WAS NECESSARY TO OFFSET AN INCREASE IN OPERATING COSTS.

*

ON THE IMPACT OF SUCH FARE INCREASES ON INFLATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: "THE PROPOSED RAIL FARE REVISIONS ARE LIKELY TO RESULT IN A SMALL INCREASE OF ONLY 0.19% IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A).

0

REVIEW OF PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES

AND

PRACTICES

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO REVIEW PUBLIC WORKS PROCEDURES, SYSTEMS AS ONE OF THE NEW MEASURES ΤΟ ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MISS ELAINE CHUNG, AT A MEETING OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).

MISS CHUNG SAID THE REVIEW WILL BE MONITORED BY A STEERING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WITH SECRETARY FOR WORKS, SECRETARY FOR TREASURY, SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS AND SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AND A NUMBER OF EXPERTS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS MEMBERS.

THE REVIEW WILL BE CONDUCTED JOINTLY BY GOVERNMENT STAFF AND A CONSULTANCY FIRM WILL BE APPOINTED SOON.

MISS CHUNG SAID THE REVIEW WOULD BE CLOSELY TIED UP WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S OVERALL PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME WHICH AIMED TO MODIFY AND CLARIFY ROLES OF POLICY BRANCHES AND THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

ISSUES TO BE EXPLORED WILL INCLUDE:

THE UNDERLYING STRATEGY AND ORGANISATIONAL EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKS PROJECTS;

WAYS ΤΟ IMPROVE THE AWARD OF GOVERNMENT SCHEDULED;

IMPEDIMENTS

TO

PROJECTS AS

OF A

POSSIBLE CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AT EACH STAGE PROJECT FROM THE START OF DESIGN ΤΟ COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION;

TIMELY EXPENDITURE FORECASTING TECHNIQUES;

EARLIER COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES TO IMPROVE PROJECT ESTIMATES.

/IT WAS

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