7
in the estimates of 88-89.
This indicates clearly that the result of the Government's effort in containing the growth of the Civil Service and expenditure on salaries is unsatisfactory.
cant.
According to
the Financial Secretary, the estimated staff growth rate for the coming year is about 4 No matter what the reason is, this rapid
Unless the Government growth is really a cause for concern. financial experts are able to conduct careful studies, come up with more realistic budgetary policies and criteria and adhere to them closely, it would be difficult to contain the increasing expansion of annual public expenditure, irrespective of the overall economic performance.
Sir, another issue concerning public expenditure that we should pay attention to is the percentage changes (in real terms) in spending for service groups comparing 1987-88 and 1991-92 as illustrated in Diagram 4 of Appendix B to the Financial Secretary's speech. It can be seen that in the next five years, spending on
be cat social services will be increased sharply by 27% while spending on
per cent. economic services will increase by 13 Sir, to my understanding, in theory, when a society becomes more affluent, the income of the public will increase and the average standard of living will also go up. Hence, the reliance on the welfare services of the Government should correspondingly decrease instead of increase. not a welfare state and should not develop into one. Government should do is to provide a free and sound economic framework in which every citizen can make a living through his own. efforts and be free to create wealth. The purpose is to enable each member of society to be self-reliant instead of seeking assistance from the Government. I see no reason why the Government should not be more positive by allocating more funds for infrastructural development to facilitate economic growth and to provide more job opportunities when the revenue increases so that
Certainly, I am not the majority of people can be self-subsistent.
Hong Kong is
What the
opposed to offering assistance to those who are unable to support themselves, particularly the elderly, the weak and the disabled. However, we must bear in mind that welfare assistance should not be