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Strong public reaction to the proposed bus fare increases indicates that residents are getting impatient with rises in charges by companies providing a public service. Everybody is
aiting for the Government to put pressure on the public services companies and stop them from raising charges at will. Also, the Government is expected to press for better services from these companies. But the Government is obviously reluctant to live up to public expectation because it, too, has to share the blame for galloping inflation in recent years. All along, the Government has adhered to its high land prices policy. Between April.and October last year, land sales fetched the Government $5 640 million, accounting for almost 45 per cent of its total revenue. High land prices have started off a vicious cycle of increases in flat prices, rents and prices of goods generally. Moreover, although there is legislation stipulating that rent rises for premises in the private sector should not exceed 21 per cent every two years, rent increases for public housing estates in recent years have, very often, gone beyond this ceiling. How can we expect other organisations not to jump on the rent rise bandwagon when the Government itself has taken the lead in the game? Will the Government be so kind as to change its policy this year and set a good example in curbing inflation?
Community groups awaiting replies to their proposals
In recent years, many community organisations have put forward a lot of criticisms and suggestions on various Government policies. Many of their arguments are neither unreasonable nor impracticable. For example, some have suggested that the Government should give positive assistance to the export trade in order to ease their financial hardships. Others have suggested that the Government should speed up the public housing programme to solve the housing problem. Still others have called for higher personal allowance to alleviate the tax burden on the public. People are hoping that the Government would give them positive answers this year.
These, however, are not the only problems facing the Government this year. It has been widely rumoured that the Government will publish a White Paper on District Administration in the middle of this month. It is expected that corresponding changes will be made in the Government's establishment after the publication of the White Paper. Furthermore, the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose's term of office is due to expire in April next year. To ensure that a series of major projects (such as the construction of an airport in Chek Lap Kok and MTR Island line) will be carried out as planned, a major reshuffle in the upper echelon of the Government is expected this year to cope with the change of governorship next year. It is generally believed that the Financial Secretary, Sir Philip Haddon-Cave, will take over as Chief Secretary within the year, while the Chief Secretary, Sir Jack Cater, will become the Hong Kong Commissioner in London.
In short, the year ahead will definitely not be an easy one for the Government. Distribution
Private Secretary, Government House
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Director of Broadcasting
Commissioner for Television and Entertainment Licensing
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