ENG-2012 — Page 47

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Constitution and Administration

• Youth Square.

Report No 59 contained 10 chapters, four of which were selected by the Public Accounts Committee for public hearing:

Regulatory control of private hospitals;

• Land grants for private hospital development;

• Monitoring and reporting of air quality; and

• Implementation of air-quality improvement measures.

The value-for-money audit reports attracted considerable public interest. The audit recommendations were accepted by the audited bodies.

In April 2012, the Chief Executive invited the Audit Commission to review the current mechanism adopted by the Chief Executive's Office in making arrangements for hotel accommodation during the Chief Executive's duty visits outside Hong Kong. A special audit report was submitted to the Chief Executive, and made public, in May 2012.

The Director of Audit's reports on the accounts of other public bodies are submitted to the relevant authority in accordance with the legislation governing those bodies' operation.

The Director of Audit maintains close contact with public sector audit institutions in Asia, and in early 2012 attended the 12th Assembly and the 5th Symposium of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions as a member of the People's Republic of China delegation in Jaipur, India.

HKSAR's External Affairs

Active participation in international activities and close liaison with international partners have enabled the HKSAR to maintain its status as an international financial, trade, civil aviation and shipping centre.

In 2012, HKSAR Government representatives took part as members of the PRC delegation in over 90 international conferences limited to states, including those organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The HKSAR Government representatives also took part in over 1,600 international conferences not limited to states, including those organised by the World Trade Organisation, Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the World Customs Organisation.

The HKSAR Government concluded 16 agreements with foreign states during the year, dealing with free trade, the avoidance of double taxation, visa abolition, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, transfer of sentenced persons, etc. In addition, one multilateral convention, the Protocol on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to Pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances 2000, became applicable to the HKSAR in 2012.

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