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The following is issued on behalf of the Audit Commission:
With reference to the statement by Mr. C M Leung, former Director of Buildings, at the PAC meeting this afternoon that he is seeking judicial review on certain procedural matters relating to Chapter 3 of the Director of Audit's Report No. 45 ¡§Development of a site at Sai Wan Ho¡¨, the Director of Audit has issued the following statement today (November 28):
This value for money audit was carried out in accordance with the procedural guidelines in the Paper presented to the Provisional Legislative Council by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee at the meeting on 11 February 1998 on Scope of Government Audit in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ¡V ¡¥Value for Money Audits¡¦.
In addition, in carrying out this value for money audit, the Audit Commission has followed the procedural requirements in Financial Circular No. 3/2005 in that the Audit Commission had sent a copy of the draft report to the relevant Controlling Officers, and their Directors of Bureaux, for comments. The draft audit report was forwarded to the Director of Buildings, other relevant controlling officers and the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands on 27 August 2005 for comments. The response of the Director of Buildings and other Controlling Officers has been incorporated into the published audit report.
In view of the fact that Mr. C M Leung has initiated judicial review, it is inappropriate for the Audit Commission to make any further comments.
Ends/Monday, November 28, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:40
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