HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
173
(5) MISS ADA WONG YING-KAY asked the following question (in Cantonese):-The Urban Council spend $13 million this year and will spend $14 million next year to advertise cultural and entertainment programmes and museum and library services through our Public Information Unit (PIU) with officers seconded from the Information Services Department (ISD), and part of the advertising budget is to purchase newspapers and magazine advertising through the ISD. Since the media has recently questioned the costs paid by the two Municipal Councils for services rendered by other government departments, I wish to ask:
(1) At present, how many officers of the PIU of the Urban Services Department (USD) are seconded from the ISD? What is its percentage when compared with the total establishment of the PIU? What is the total expenditure on salary and fringe benefits of staff seconded from the ISD? What is its percentage when compared with the total expenditure on salary and fringe benefits of the PIU?
(2) Is it necessary for the PIU of USD to second staff from the ISD? Is this arrangement stipulated under the 1973 Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements?
(3) How much is paid to the ISD for the purpose of placing newspaper and magazine advertisements on USD's behalf last year? Is it impossible for the Urban Council to liaise directly with newspapers and magazines to secure a discount similar to or even better than that of the ISD?
(4) Apart from the PIU, which branches and sections of the USD have seconded staff from other government departments? Can these seconded posts be listed out? For example, is the arrangement of seconding staff from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Architectural Services Department and Planning Department, etc, stipulated under the 1973 Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements? If the answer is negative, why does the Council not consider open recruitment procedures to hire contract staff instead?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this four-part question asks about the secondment of staff from other government departments to USD and the arrangement of advertising on newspapers and magazines through the Information Services Department. To facilitate Members in understanding this reply, I will, first of all, briefly explain the establishment of the Urban Services Department as stated in the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements 1973, and I will answer the fourth and the second part of the question first before giving a reply to the first and third part.
According to the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements 1973, the Urban Services Department is on the one hand the executive arm of the Urban Council, while on the other hand it remains as a government department.
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
173
(5) MISS ADA WONG YING-KAY asked the following question (in Cantonese):-The Urban Council spend $13 million this year and will spend $14 million next year to advertise cultural and entertainment programmes and museum and library services through our Public Information Unit (PIU) with officers seconded from the Information Services Department (ISD), and part of the advertising budget is to purchase newspapers and magazine advertising through the ISD. Since the media has recently questioned the costs paid by the two Municipal Councils for services rendered by other government departments, I wish to ask:
(1) At present, how many officers of the PIU of the Urban Services Department (USD) are seconded from the ISD? What is its percentage when compared with the total establishment of the PIU? What is the total expenditure on salary and fringe benefits of staff seconded from the ISD? What is its percentage when compared with the total expenditure on salary and fringe benefits of the PIU?
(2) Is it necessary for the PIU of USD to second staff from the ISD? Is this arrangement stipulated under the 1973 Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements?
(3) How much is paid to the ISD for the purpose of placing newspaper and magazine advertisements on USD's behalf last year? Is it impossible for the Urban Council to liaise directly with newspapers and magazines to secure a discount similar to or even better than that of the ISD? (4) Apart from the PIU, which branches and sections of the USD have seconded staff from other government departments? Can these seconded posts be listed out? For example, is the arrangement of seconding staff from the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Architectural Services Department and Planning Department, etc, stipulated under the 1973 Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements? If the answer is negative, why does the Council not consider open recruitment procedures to hire contract staff instead?
MR. SUEN KAI-CHEONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ADMINISTRATION SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows (in Cantonese):-Mr. Chairman, this four-part question asks about the secondment of staff from other government departments to USD and the arrangement of advertising on newspapers and magazines through the Information Services Department. To facilitate Members in understanding this reply. I will, first of all, briefly explain the establishment of the Urban Services Department as stated in the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements 1973, and I will answer the fourth and the second part of the question first before giving a reply to the first and third parl.
According to the Memorandum of Administrative Arrangements 1973, the Urban Services Department is on the one hand the executive arm of the Urban Council, while on the other hand it remains as a government department. The
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