TNAG-1855-FCO40-2630-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-memoranda-and-minutes-of-me-1989 — Page 155

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL -8 March 1989

香港立法局 一九八九年三月八日

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MR. PETER WONG: Sir, would the Financial Secretary tell this Council whether there are other governments that use such an accounting system and, if so, what are their experiences? And, also, will the Administration in due course consult the accounting profession on its possible use?

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, I do not have full details of other places that have used accounting funds but I do believe that they are widely applied elsewhere. If we decide to introduce the trading fund concept in Hong Kong, I see no objection to our consulting the accounting profession and I have noted Mr. Peter WONG's remarks.

MR. BARROW: Sir, would the Financial Secretary confirm that in considering this issue, the Administration will bear in mind that there is a need to avoid a proliferation of unproductive interdepartmental memoranda and disputes that could result from such a scheme and which would not, at the end of the day, add to overall efficiency?

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Yes, Sir, we will certainly do our best to ensure that there are no unnecessary interdepartmental disputes. What we are talking about, Sir, with these trading fund systems is basically an accounting system. I do not think it will lead to any disputes at all.

MR. ANDREW WONG: Sir, may I be enlightened as to what exactly is the trading fund concept? Does it mean that the Government is going to be engaged in business in trading?

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, I am glad Mr. WONG asked me that question because I do have the answer in my brief here. (laughter) Trading funds basically are accounting frameworks established by law for departments providing services on a quasi-commercial basis with the objective of recovering costs. Trading fund departments do not have the same autonomy as a corporation but have greater financial flexibility than traditional government departments. Their staff, as I have indicated in my principal answer, do remain part of the Civil Service and are subject to its terms and conditions.

譚耀宗議員問:現時政府所提出的建議,將會何時公佈?會否廣泛諮詢市民意見?