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A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau stressed that the bureau has been according priority to aviation safety and is very concerned about the progress of the replacement of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) System by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD). The Secretary for Transport and Housing has instructed the Director-General of Civil Aviation to follow up proactively on the recommendations made by the Audit Commission and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the reports.
The bureau has also urged the Director-General of Civil Aviation to seize the time to complete the remaining follow-up work for the Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) with the supplier as soon as possible while ensuring that the safe, reliable and stable operation of the new ATC System would not be compromised, so as to ensure the completion of the transition to the new ATC System in the first half of 2016 for operation.
In response to media enquiries on the PAC Report No. 63A today (June 3), the spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said the CAD has strictly followed the relevant rules and procedures as stipulated in the Government Stores and Procurement Regulations (the Regulations) and the Agreement on Government Procurement of the World Trade Organization during the procurement of each of the systems under the new ATC System, and consulted the Department of Justice and the Government Logistics Department (GLD) where necessary to ensure impartiality and fairness throughout the procurement process.
As regards the two contract variations for the ATMS, which is one of the systems under the ATC System, the CAD has strictly followed the Regulations by submitting details of those enhancement items and costs involved to the GLD for vetting and approval.
When the Transport and Housing Bureau was aware that the commissioning date of the new ATMS would be delayed, the bureau had immediately requested the CAD for a regular progress update on the implementation of the project and offered advice from the policy perspective.
The CAD has also stepped up various maintenance efforts for the existing ATC System to ensure smooth operation of the system before the commissioning of the new ATC System.
The spokesman said the bureau is aware of the PAC's great concern and will study in details various recommendations made in the PAC report and see how to follow up on those recommendations as appropriate. The Legislative Council Panel on Economic Development will also be updated on the latest progress when appropriate.
Ends/Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Issued at HKT 21:00
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