The Government Data Processing Agency would assess the adequacy of preventive measures in all Government computer installations over the next 18 months.
6.3 Conclusions and Recommendations. The Committee note that a plan has now been agreed by the Chief Secretary's Committee and that the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council will be invited to approve the necessary funds shortly. The Committee wish to be informed of the timetable for implementing the plan and of any difficulties in meeting it which may arise.
6.4 Paragraphs 61--66. Delays in occupying premises for Government, Institution and Community purposes in a private development project. The Director of Social Welfare told the Committee that there had been delays:
with the centre for the elderly because the agency applying to run the centre had taken seven months to satisfy her department that it had the financial ability to run it. There had also been problems with the agency's constitution. However, the centre had been opened in June 1986.
with the children and youth centre because part of the premises had been unsuitable. Having been designed as a games hall it had a high ceiling. This had given rise to undesirable echo effects and to the need for specialized partitioning. The alterations required had been complex, and there had been problems over beam-loading. Her Department had tried in vain to persuade the developer to remedy the deficiency. It had then been decided not to take remedial works further until a voluntary agency could be found. Negotiations with an agency took place from early 1983 until late 1984. Moreover it had taken longer than expected to secure approval for the plans following consultation with other departments, the Mass Transit Railway Corporation and the Corporation's consultants. However the Building Authority had now approved the alterations. She hoped the centre would be opened in early 1987.
6.5 The Director said that her Department had a section with responsibility for monitoring progress and forward planning. As a result of this experience planning now started five years ahead rather than two to three years ahead as in the past.
6.6 The Director did not think it would be easy to impose deadlines on negotiations with voluntary agencies. The difficulties were usually genuine. However, progress was reviewed every month and if there were unreasonable delays, consideration might be given to finding alternative agencies. For a standard facility in a public housing estate an agreement should be possible within 12 months. A complex project might take longer. Although the basic require- ments for centres were fairly well standardized, the agencies had to have some flexibility in deciding on fitting out requirements.
6.7 The effect of the delay in opening the youth centre had been slight since this was a reprovisioning of a nearby facility. In the case of the centre for the elderly there had been some effect in that needed facilities had been delayed.
6.8 Defects in the social welfare provision in the Provident Centre in North Point had not been remedied until September 1986. The Director expected the children and youth centre to be operational by the middle of 1987 and the day care centre and the multi-services centre for the elderly to be operational by September 1987. Applications for funds from the Lotteries Fund for the services for the elderly centre were being processed. The children and youth centre would not require capital funding from the Government.
6.9 The Secretary for Administrative Services and Information said that in the early 1980's no advice had been given to departments on the co-ordination of this type of project. There had been inadequate communication and co- ordination in this case. However, the situation had improved since the issue of the Accommodation Manual by his Branch in 1985 setting out procedures to be followed in future. Under these procedures it should be possible to give at least three to four years advance notice of the availability of Government, Institution and Community (GIC) facilities in new developments. The procedures also stipulated that GIC facilities should be drawn up in consultation with the user department. Following the introduction of the new procedures his Branch had been overseeing progress at every stage up until the moment when the user actually took over its premises.
6.10 The Secretary knew of no cases of delay in occupying GIC facilities other than those addressed by the Committee. 6.11 Conclusions and Recommendations. The Committee are concerned at the delays in occupying Government, Institution and Community accommodation. These have resulted in a delay in providing needed social services. However, the Committee note that new procedures have been devised and promulgated in the Accommodation Manual issued by the Secretary for Administrative Services and Information. The Committee also note that the Director of Social Welfare has instituted new planning procedures which commence five years in advance of the anticipated availability of such accommodation. The Committee welcome these developments. The Committee trust that the problems identified by the Director of Audit will not recur but wish to be informed if they do.
CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH
6.12 Paragraphs 53–55. Review of departmental procedures for the calculation and recording of leave eligibility. The Secretary for the Civil Service said that the types of leave in Government include casual, vacation, study, maternity and no pay leave.
6.13 The Secretary said that progress had been made in rationalizing leave schemes. Proposals from the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service had already been discussed with the staff side. The
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