XN000022-1996-05-15 — Page 27

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That said, the provisions have not been used for a long time, certainly not at all This is because the since their transfer to the Public Finance Ordinance. Administration may award compensation and ex-gratia payments using normal Estimates procedures under the Public Finance Ordinance. Provision for such award is made under Head 106 Miscellaneous Services Subhead 284 Compensation and is approved by this Council annually in the context of the Appropriation Bill. Any supplementary provision required during the year may be approved by the Finance Committee or by delegated authority as appropriate. That subhead provides for the grant of ex-gratia payments and the settlement of claims made against the Government (other than those compensation which should be charged to specific sub-heads, such as those connected with land, public works, mail and for civil servants under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance).

End

Government Supplies Department procured goods

Following is a question by the Hon Emily Lau Wai-hing and a reply by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the countries of origin of goods procured by the Government Supplies Department, will the Government inform this Council :

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the criteria for determining the countries from which goods are to be procured;

of the percentage of the value of the goods procured from Britain out of the total value of all the goods procured in the past two years; and

whether it has any plans to procure more goods manufactured in China in the future; if so, what the reasons are; and whether it will in future continue to adopt the criteria mentioned in the answer to (a) above for determining the countries from which goods are to be procured?