THE Government has been harshly criticised for mishandling the Hongkong University of Science and Technology project, the cost of which overran by $1.6 billion, and for treating the Legislative Council's Finance Committee in a ''cavalier manner''.
The broadside came from the seven-member Public Accounts Committee, which spent 15 months preparing a detailed study of the controversial third university, sponsored by the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club and opened in October 1991.
The 482-page report levelled severe criticism against the former secretary for lands and works, Mr Nicky Chan Nai-keong, and to a lesser extent, the university's vice-chancellor and president, Professor Woo Chia-wei.
It blamed the the Chief Secretary, Sir David Ford, for ''possibly comprising the Government's legal position'' in the event of the Jockey Club's non-compliance with the conditions in financing the project as stated by the Executive Council.
This was because Sir David had made no reference to those conditions in conveying the Executive Council's acceptance of the funding offer to the Jockey Club.
To avoid similar mistakes in the future, such as the construction of the Northern Hospital near Sheung Shui, the committee recommended the Finance Committee play a more active role in monitoring financing arrangements.
