Sessional_Paper_1932 — Page 77

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THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMENTARY ON THE REPORT.

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

Paragraphs 5-9.—As the Commissioners state, the severance of the Water Works Office from the Public Works Department and the creation of a wholly independent Water Works Department is the reverse of retrenchment. Government is not therefore prepared to consider the proposal at the present moment. They appreciate the value and desirability of price-costing water; but here again increased expenditure would be the immediate result, for to do this properly would entail the engagement of extra staff. The suggestion is however being carefully examined. To charge the consumer the full production cost of the water he consumes is a matter of policy, in which connection its

effect on the poorer sections of the community should not be lost sight of.

The Government feels constrained to express its disagreement with the views ex- pressed in the latter part of paragraph 5. The Government is unaware of any occasion on which the views of the Water Department on any matters of importance have failed to 'filter through to the Chief Executive'. Where the Government has declined to accept the views of the Water Department there have been reasons which at the time appeared adequate, and the position of the head of the Water Department would cer- tainly have been no stronger had his department been separated from the Public Works Department.

Paragraph 10.-This proposal has received careful consideration. It is doubtful if the change in the financial year would have any appreciable effect on the speeding up of the work, while there are obvious disadvantages in the proposal, the calendar year being the most convenient for statistical purposes. The disadvantages of this proposal appear to outweigh the advantages, and it is therefore not proposed to adopt it.

Paragraph 11.-Government is satisfied that the further extension of the system of departmental execution of small works would be uneconomic, entailing as it would capital outlay for workshops, etc. The Government considers that the present system is more economical than that suggested by the Commissioners.

Paragraph 12.-The Chairman of the Tender Board, to whom this paragraph has been referred, considers that no advantage would be gained or economy result by adopting the first and third suggestions. Government concurs. The second is already the invariable practice. The third suggestion is in direct conflict with the policy of entrusting heads of departments and sub-departments with responsibility, which is stressed so strongly elsewhere in the Report.

Paragraph 13.-Government is in general agreement with this paragraph, but each work will have to be dealt with on its merits. The second section of the Shing Mun Water Works scheme, for example, will probably be carried out by temporary staff, whilst the hydrographic survey of the harbour is being done by temporary staff special- ly engaged by Government for the purpose.

Paragraphs 14-16.-Government is satisfied that the present system whereby the care of furniture is attended to by the stores branch is the most satisfactory. There is only one engineer engaged on maintenance work. The normal requirements of the office are four engineers in addition to the Executive Engineer. This is the position today, for three engineers are engaged on loan works. On the termination of those works they will either be absorbed into vacancies in the Public Works Department that may then exist, or their services will be dispensed with. It is anticipated however that the construction of a new Gaol, Government Civil Hospital, Mental Hospital, Infectious Diseases Hospital and other large works will keep them fully occupied for the next few years.

Paragraphs 17-19. Considerable progress had been made in the revision and re- drafting of the Ordinance before the Retrenchment Commission's Report was received. The suggestions of the Commission are being considered in connection with the new