Replies to Questions from Finance Committee Members

Head:
42 EMSD
Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2003-04 Reply Serial No.
CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY TO
WRITTEN/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
ETWB(W) 013
Question Serial No.
Subhead(No. & title):
000 Operational expenses
Programme: 1 – Energy supply; electrical, gas and nuclear safety
2 – Mechanical engineering installations safety
3 – Energy efficiency and air quality
4 – Centralised services and special support
Controlling Officer: Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services
Director of Bureau: Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works
Question :
Regarding the total amount of the recurrent account under Subhead 000 Operational expenses,
the estimate for 2003-04 is $1,648,000 higher than the revised estimate for 2002-03. What
are the reasons for the increase? Does the amount take account of factors such as civil
service pay cut, streamlined structure and voluntary retirement? If not, what are the
reasons?
Asked by: Hon. LI Fung –ying
Reply:
The increase is mainly due to additional provision for implementing two new computer
systems and organizing public education campaigns on electrical and gas safety and energy
efficiency as well as the transfer of resources from Information Technology Services
Department to support the establishment of the Information Technology Management Unit in
my department, partly offset by implementation of the 1.8% efficiency savings initiatives
through streamlining working procedures and tightening up on operating expenditure.
0341
The estimate for 2003-04 has already taken into account the full-year effect of the civil
service pay reduction in 2002 and savings arising from the streamlined structure but not the
Voluntary Retirement Scheme II, the impact of which is still not known.
Gototop
Signature
Name in block
letters Roger S. H. LAI
Post Title Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services
Date 19 March 2003