XN000022-1996-10-09 — Page 27

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Public Accounts Committee report tabled

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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary, the Hon Anson Chan, in tabling the Government Minute in response to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

Laid on the table today is the Government Minute responding to Report No. 26 of the Public Accounts Committee. The Minute sets out the measures the Government has taken, or is planning to take, on the conclusions and recommendations contained in the Report.

Mr Eric Li, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, spoke in this Council on 10 July 1996 when tabling the Report. I would like to respond to the points he made.

Mr Li highlighted the Administration's duty and accountability in relation to this Council's role in authorising public expenditure. Referring to cases covered in the PAC Report, he urged the Administration to adhere closely to established Finance Committee procedures, and to provide all relevant information to Finance Committee to facilitate its decision-making.

Let me reassure Members that we attach the utmost importance to the principles of legislative control of public finance and public accountability. However, on occasions, with the best of intentions, technical errors do occur. This is what has happened in one of the three capital works projects at the Kai Tai Airport to which Mr. Li made reference. We will do all we possibly can to remind officers of the statutory requirements governing the management of public finances to ensure that similar incidents will not recur.

The Administration fully agrees that we should include all relevant information in Finance Committee funding proposals to allow the Committee to make informed decisions. Indeed, the Secretary for the Treasury has, over the years, issued guidelines to require departments to provide clear, accurate and comprehensive information in their submissions. The Finance Branch will continue to do all it can to ensure compliance with those guidelines.