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Translation
DRAFT SPEECH BY HON CHAN YING LUN, JP LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL · 21 APRIL 1988
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Budget Debate 1988-
MR. CHAN YING-LUN(in Cantinese):
Sir,
I really have no criticism on the Budget which was so excellently prepared by the Financial Secretary with tax
concessions and increases of expenditures on social welfare
'services.
However I have been inspired by government's recent proposal to reduce the subsidy to the Student Travel Scheme to air
my views on public finance.
As a member of the public, I am of the opinion that public money taken from the people should be spent on the people. It would not give rise to opposition or be considered a wastage even if huge sums of money are spent provided that such expenditures are justified, necessary and equitable. Take for $2,000 instance, the Government intends to spend more than two thousand million dollars on the compensation package of the Kowloon Walled City clearance. No objection has been raised because the money is to be spent on Hong Kong people in a reasonable manner.
The problem of the existing Student Travel Scheme lies in the method of calculation which may lead to wastage of public money. The Government is spending money generously at the expense of the taxpayers while the ultimate beneficiaries are the public
le transport companies.
transport companies. By revising the
By revising the scheme, the Government is aiming at reducing unnecessary expenditure and using the savings therefrom to promote other services. However, the immediate response from the public towards the announcement of a revised Scheme is that the Government is practising thrift. I think there is nothing wrong in trying to save money. The problem is the,, public wish to know if expenses are cut down in an appropriate manner and what are the purposes of such savings.
(I)