XN000022-1993-05-26 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993

ITS

HE SAID UPON APPROACH OF RAINY SEASON, THE HYD WOULD MOBILISE TERM CONTRACTORS TO CLEAR IDENTIFIED BLOCKAGE OF DRAIN INLETS

PREVENT FLOODING.

TO

DURING RAINSTORMS, USD/RSD WOULD MOBILISE THEIR STAFF TO PATROL AREAS PARTICULARLY PRONE TO FLOODING. DRAINAGE SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS SEWER GANGS AND TERM CONTRACTORS SPECIALLY GEARED UP TO HANDLE FLOODING INCIDENTS.

THE HYD WOULD HELP TO CLEAR BLOCKED DRAIN INLETS AS AND WHEN REQUIRED AND ITS STAFF WOULD INSPECT THE ROAD SURFACE CONDITIONS TO REPORT ANY IDENTIFIED FLOODING SPOTS FOR IMMEDIATE AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS, MR BLAKE ADDED.

GOVERNMENT PROBES INVESTMENT LOSS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS INITIATED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOSS INCURRED BY THE AIDS FOUNDATION IN THE INVESTMENT OF ITS FUNDS AND IS EXAMINING ITS REPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE. MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON LEONG CHE-HUNG, MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT USED A COMBINATION OF MEASURES TO CONTROL AND MONITOR THE USE OF FUNDS PROVIDED TO A SUBVENTED ORGANISATION.

THESE INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RULES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING THE USE, MANAGEMENT AND INVESTMENT OF FUNDS; THE EXAMINATION OF PERIODIC FINANCIAL REPORTS AND THE ANNUAL AUDITED ACCOUNTS OF THE ORGANISATION; THE AD HOC INSPECTION OF RECORDS AND ACCOUNTS BY STAFF OF THE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT AND AUDIT DEPARTMENT; AND THE APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AS MEMBERS OR OBSERVERS OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD OR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

MRS WONG SAID THE EXTENT OF THE MONITORING AND CONTROL VARIED FROM ORGANISATION ΤΟ ORGANISATION DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE

SUBVENTION.

IN THE CASE OF THE AIDS FOUNDATION, THE GOVERNMENT LAID DOWN GUIDELINES ON THE INVESTMENT OF THE ONE-OFF SEEDING GRANT OF $15 MILLION, SUCH AS INVESTMENTS SHOULD BE IN SHORT-TERM FIXED DEPOSITS, BONDS, LOAN STOCKS AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT.

MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT MONITOR THE USE OF DONATIONS BY SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

HOWEVER, A SUBVENTED ORGANISATION MUST SEEK THE GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT BEFORE IT COULD ACCEPT A DONATION, E.G. WHEN ADDITIONAL RECURRENT SUBVENTION WOULD BE REQUIRED AS A RESULT.

/SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS