might be expected, its organization, while designed to ensure that the regulations are met, is moulded to the accounting needs peculiar to the Government of Hong Kong. With effect from 1 March 1975 a new post of Director of Accounting Services was created and the holder became responsible for the administration of the Treasury and for the general management and supervision of the accounting operations of the Government, however the Accountant General retained the appointment as officer in charge of the Treasury until the post lapsed from 1 April 1977 on the promotion of the holder to the post of Secretary for Monetary Affairs. The Director of Accounting Services then formally took over the duties of officer in charge of the Treasury, for the purpose of Colonial Regulations.
23. The Treasury is organized under four technical branches and a general branch. The latter, controlled by the Secretary of the department, provides the registry, secretariat, stores and other office services needed by the technical branches and for the administration of the department. The principal functions of the technical branches are summarized very briefly below:
(a) Main Accounts Branch
The main accounting records of Government and its separate funds, such as the Exchange Fund, Development Loan Fund, Lotteries Fund and the Coinage Security Fund are maintained in this branch. The branch prepares and issues cheques and arranges bank transfers in payment of all sums due by Government in respect of goods, services, salaries, subventions, etc. amounting in 1976–77 to $10,443.2 million. It exercises control over all official banking accounts and imprests held locally and overseas. It is responsible for ensuring that money available locally and overseas is put to the best use to earn interest and for processing and recording the deposit, investment and banking transactions which stem from this function.
(b) Revenue Branch
The Revenue Branch is responsible principally for the cash transactions of the Treasury, the maintenance of related records and for the preparation of the Government's annual revenue estimates. With the Computer Division it is responsible for the calculation and preparation of all demand notes for Crown Rent and for Rates and Property Tax. The branch accounts for all the demand notes it issues and for demand notes issued by other departments for payments at Treasury collection centres. Except for disbursements which, of necessity, must be made in departments, all payments of public money, including pensions paid locally, are made through this branch. The branch also undertakes two additional functions, namely the service of writs instituting proceedings for the recovery of arrears of the Rates and the collection of fixed penalties imposed under the Fixed Penalty (Traffic Contraventions) Ordinance. The sub- treasuries at Yau Ma Tei, Causeway Bay and Kowloon City are a part of the branch. (c) Establishment Branch
The monthly payroll for all Civil Servants is prepared by the Computer Division of the Accounting Services Branch. The Establishment Branch is responsible to ensure that changes to the information stored on computer files con- cerning salaries and related matters, whether submitted by departments or initiated in the Treasury, are in accordance with established regulations and pay scales and have received due authority before submission to the Computer Division. The work of the Branch includes the processing of overtime claims, allowances, advances for a variety of purposes and their recovery and deductions for rent, water, pension scheme contributions and various other charges. The Passages Section handles the booking and payment of passages for officers on duty and study visits or who are travelling on leave with their families; it also checks and processes the various allowances for claims arising therefrom. The Pensions Section is responsible for calculating pensions and gratuities and for making arrangements locally and overseas for the payment of pensions, which have been prepared by the Computer Division. The Educa- tion Allowances Section deals with the processing of applications and claims for local and overseas education allowances.
(d) Accounting Services Branch
This branch is charged with supervising and reviewing the accounting operations of the Government and ensuring that a proper and efficient system of account is established in every department. It examines payments, other than personal emoluments and pensions, to ensure that each payment is covered by proper authority and, with certain exceptions, examines revenue receipts to ensure that departments have correctly assessed and collected the various fees and charges due and brought them to account. The Accounting Services Branch is also responsible to see that proper provision is made for the safe keeping of all public monies, stamps, securities and other valuables and for carrying out surprise inspections of the operation and security of Government offices where cash transactions occur. The branch is available to all departments for advice on accounting and costing matters and assistance in the design of accounting systems and procedures; an associated function is the responsibility for the design of all accounting forms. It also appraise the accounts of organisations with which Government has cost sharing arrange- ments to ensure that charges are in accordance with the underlying contracts and agreements.
The Computer Division of the branch at present processes Crown Rents, Rates, Property Tax, Pensions and the payroll for the entire Civil Service.
24. The Treasury is responsible for the day to day accounting transactions of the Exchange Fund which, under the control of the Financial Secretary, is used for the purpose of regulating the exchange value of the currency of Hong Kong. The department is also responsible for the purchase and sale of one cent notes and coins in the denomination of $5, $2, $1, 50 cents, 20 cents, 10 cents and 5 cents and for the maintenance and safe custody of adequate stocks of these currency units. Senior officers of the Treasury are called upon to give advice with regard to the practical aspects of policy decisions affecting expenditure or the receipt of moneys, and to assist in the formulation of procedures for carrying them out.
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