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) 014
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 :
Question Serial No.
Can the Government tell us why the amount of salaries of the Electrical and Mechanical
Services Department in the estimate for 2003-04 is smaller than last year’s revised estimate
while the allowances to be paid in this financial year increase?
Asked by: Hon. CHAN Kam-lam
Reply:
The salary provision for 2003-04 is $2.8milllion (1.6%) lower than the revised estimate for
2002-03. This is mainly due to the net deletion of 4 posts and the full-year effect of the civil
service pay reduction in 2002.
The allowances for 2003-04 is $0.6 million (17.7%) higher than the revised estimate for
2002-03. This is mainly due to additional provision for overtime requirement due to data
input work for the implementation of the new accrual accounting system and increased acting
allowances to cater for increasing number of officers on pre-retirement leave.
Gototop
Signature
Name in block
letters Roger S. H. LAI
0480
Post Title Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services
Date 19 March 2003