XN000022-1996-10-30 — Page 28

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I am also pleased to note that operating as a self-financing, non-profit-making institution since 1993, the OLI has been maintaining and improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its administration, development and delivery of courses. Benefiting from a good enrolment, the Institute was able to balance its recurrent budget for the first time in 1995-96 while keeping its fee levels affordable to most local working adults and thus maintaining its mission of providing higher education at an affordable price. This is indeed a most impressive achievement.

In the Annual Report tabled before this Council today, you will also find details about the establishment of the Institute's new campus, the launching of its Employer Support Scholarship Scheme and the OLI Student Financial Assistance Scheme as well as the enhancement of its links with institutions in China.

To conclude, I should like to place on record the Government's and indeed the community's appreciation of the many achievements of the OLI. I have no doubt it will continue to play a key role in the provision of continuing education in Hong Kong.

End

Establishment of Water Supplies Department suspense account

Following is the speech by the Secretary for the Treasury, Mr K C Kwong, in moving a resolution on the establishment of Water Supplies Department suspense account at the Legislative Council meeting today (Wednesday):

Mr President.

I rise to move the resolution standing in my name on the Order Paper. Its purpose is to establish a special suspense account under section 30(1) of the Public Finance Ordinance. The proposed suspense account will facilitate the transfer of specialised waterworks items from the Unallocated Stores of the Government Supplies Department (GSD) to Water Supplies Department (WSD).

The Director of Water Supplies is responsible for the operation and maintenance of both the fresh and flushing water supply systems in Hong Kong. The materials and spare parts required for construction, repair and maintenance of the supply systems are mainly drawn from two different stores, namely the GSD Unallocated Stores and the WSD Allocated Stores.