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Michael V STONE, JP,
Secretary-General UGC
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Mr. Stone
was appointed as the Secretary-General of the UGC in August 2003.
Mr. Stone has extensive administrative experience and wide exposure
during his civil service career as an Administrative Officer. Before
joining the UGC, Mr. Stone served in various government offices,
including senior postings as Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service,
Deputy Representative of the HKSAR to the World Trade Organisation
and the E-government Coordinator in the then Commerce, Industry and
Technology Bureau. |
Message from the Secretary-General
The
function of the UGC Secretariat is to support the UGC (and the
Councils and bodies under its aegis) in the fulfillment of its terms
of reference. That is impartially: to advise the Government on the
funding needs and the strategic development of the eight
publicly-funded higher education institutions; and to safeguard the
institutions' academic freedom on the one hand while ensuring
accountability of the public funds entrusted to them on the other.
In this role our main functions are to: draft
papers and action plans to take forward UGC initiatives; to work
with the UGC-funded institutions on all relevant fronts; and to
disburse funds to institutions and to monitor their effective use.
The
UGC's Council and Sub-Committee structure
and functions are set out in the chapter "Overview of the UGC".
Two new Groups were established in 2009-10 - the Investment Group (IG)
and the Communications Group (CG). The IG advises the UGC (and the
Trustee) on how to manage and invest the funds under the Research
Endowment Fund. The CG advises the UGC on public interaction with
all relevant stakeholders.
Information in this Report is also available on
the UGC Website www.ugc.edu.hk. You may also find other useful
information about the sector on the website.
Expenditure Statement of the UGC Secretariat
Chart 1 below summarises the expenditure of the
UGC Secretariat in the financial year from 1 April 2009 to 31 March
2010, which covers the recurrent UGC operating expenditure; the
recurrent subventions to institutions; and the non-recurrent
expenditure.
Chart 1: Expenditure Statement for the year ended
31 March 2010
|
Year Ended 31 March |
| |
2010 |
2009 |
|
$’000
|
$’000
|
| (1)
Recurrent UGC Operating Expenditure |
|
|
|
Staff Related Expenditure |
|
|
|
• Civil Services Salaries |
24,849 |
23,488 |
|
• Allowances and MPF Contribution |
1,947 |
1,431 |
|
Departmental Expenditure |
|
|
|
• General Departmental Expenses (Note) |
22,448 |
16,406 |
|
Expenditure for Members |
|
|
|
• Honoraria for Overseas Members |
4,980 |
3,795 |
|
• Meeting Expenses |
9,492 |
8,326 |
|
(i.e. air passage and hotel, etc.) |
|
|
|
|
Sub-total (1) |
63,716 |
53,446 |
|
| (2)
Recurrent Subventions to Institutions |
|
|
|
Recurrent Grants to Institutions |
10,857,372 |
10,640,822 |
|
Refund of Government Rent and Rates |
149,285 |
149,676 |
|
Subventions for Housing Related
Expenses
|
469,002 |
920,156 |
|
|
Sub-total (2) |
11,475,659 |
11,710,654 |
|
| Total Recurrent Expenditure (1)+(2) |
11,539,375 |
11,764,100 |
|
| (3) Non-Recurrent Expenditure |
|
|
|
General Other Non-recurrent |
|
|
|
• Scholarship Scheme for Outstanding |
0 |
175 |
|
Mainland Students |
|
|
|
• Research Endowment Fund |
0 |
18,000,000 |
|
• Fourth Matching Grant Scheme |
0 |
400,000 |
|
• One-off Special Equipment Grant |
0 |
200,000 |
|
|
Sub-total (3) |
0 |
18,600,175 |
|
| TOTAL (1) + (2) + (3) |
11,539,375 |
30,364,275 |
|
Note
This includes salaries for non civil service contract staff and fees
for professional and other hire of services.
The Secretariat has, with the General Affairs and
Management Sub-Committee (GAMSC), established clear internal rules
and levels of approval authorities governing various matters (such
as the award of consultancy contracts). The UGC Secretariat is a
government department and thus we naturally follow rigorously all
civil service and financial and accounting regulations. In addition,
the agreement is sought from either the Chairman UGC or the convenor
of sub-committees, for single quotations of consultancy contracts
above $50,000. The advice of the GAMSC- or UGC- is required for
any item of expenditure above $1 million drawn from the Central
Allocation Vote (CAV). GAMSC receives regular reports from the
Secretariat on the year-to-date expenditure position and other
internal administrative and financial matters.
Local Members of the UGC and all its Councils and
Sub-Committees/Panels receive no remuneration for their extensive
voluntary service - save for a $200 per meeting day travel
allowance. Overseas Members receive an annual honorarium for their
tremendous contribution. The rates were originally approved by the
Legislative Council and are adjusted according to an approved
formula. They currently stand at:
(HK$ per annum)
|
UGC |
114,200
|
| RGC/QAC |
72,000
|
|
UGC Sub-Committees and |
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| RGC Panels*
|
55,550
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* payable only to members outside Hong Kong who
are co-opted and do not
serve on UGC/RGC proper
Michael V Stone, JP
Secretary-General
University Grants Committee
May 2010
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