AN JONY GREY:
S.T. KIDD:
ANTHONY GREY:
The report says that the social conditions, the
labour conditions, are a standing disgrace.
Would you say that is an accurate assessment?
2.
Well, the report makes frequent reference to the
colony's deplorable record in social services,
when, in fact, 38% of our current budget is devoted
to housing, education, medical and welfare services,
and another 28% to essential community services such
as roads, fire service, water supplies. Indeed,
the Government has budgeted for a deficit this year
but is spending more money than ever before on building
new towns, new communications and new public services,
such as the mass transit system and new water schemes.
You say that the Government is budgeting for a deficit
this year.
I think that is directly opposed to
Mr. Sillars' view he says that the budget is always
in surplus and that the surplus is sent back to the
U.K.
S.T. KIDD:
Well, indeed, there is a great deal of play made in
the report and by Mr. Sillars about the size of our
sterling balances in London. In fact, Hong Kong's
official reserves amount to no more than 50% of the
colony's annual expenditure.
ANTHONY GREY:
Another aspect which the report lays great emphasis
on is the prostitution and drug taking. Prostitution
is a serious disgrace and Hong Kong is one of the
drug centres of the world. Is this something
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