XN000022-1993-11-17 — Page 18

16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1993

OF

CONSTRUCTION BOTH IN

THE

HOWEVER, BLASTING WAS EMPLOYED IN A NUMBER PROJECTS LIKE SITE FORMATION, EXCAVATION AND TUNNELLING, FRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR.

GOVERNMENT RECORDS SHOW THAT 88 BLASTING PERMITS WERE BETWEEN JANUARY 1991 AND OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

ISSUED

SYSTEM TO CONTROL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN PLACE

THE

DEVELOPMENT

HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE LAND CORPORATION HAVE IN PLACE A SYSTEM REGARDING CONTROLS OF DECLARATION OF INTERESTS BY THEIR MEMBERS.

AND

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK.

MR EASON SAID: "THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUIRE ITS MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN, TO REGISTER THEIR PECUNIARY INTERESTS IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR APPOINTMENT, AND THEREAFTER BETWEEN 1 AND 30 APRIL IN EVERY ENSUING YEAR."

THE STANDING ORDERS ALSO STIPULATE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH SITUATIONS WHERE A POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST MAY ARISE.

FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ANY MEMBER HAS A DIRECT PERSONAL OR PECUNIARY INTEREST IN ANY MATTER UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE AUTHORITY,

MUST, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER HE HAS BECOME AWARE OF IT, DISCLOSE THIS TO THE AUTHORITY.

HE

EXPERIENCE OVER THE YEARS HAS SHOWN THAT MEMBERS HAVE RESPONDED TO THIS REQUIREMENT IN A RESPONSIBLE WAY.

POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST IN THE DUTIES ARE ALSO CONSIDERED IN THE APPOINTMENT AUTHORITY.

DISCHARGE OF PUBLIC OF MEMBERS ΤΟ THE

"IF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST, THEY CAN LODGE THEM WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS," HE SAID.

A

AS REGARDS THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, MR EASON SAID: "SECTION 6(1) OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE LDC ORDINANCE PROVIDES THAT MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION WHO IS IN ANY WAY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY INTERESTED IN A CONTRACT MADE OR PROPOSED TO BE MADE BY THE CORPORATION SHALL DISCLOSE THE NATURE OF HIS INTEREST AT A MEETING

THE CORPORATION.

OF

/THE DISCLOSURE