60.
I referred earlier to the proposal to increase our expenditure significantly in support of Our manufacturing industry. We are already committed to spending over $1 billion
a year on services for industry. Our plans for increased
expenditure in 1988-89 include a grant to the Hong Kong Productivity Council for the first year
year of a new three-year programme for upgrading and expanding its productivity enhancement services, a grant to assist towards the creation of a plastics technology centre based on the Hong Kong Polytechnic and additional appropriations to enable the Industry Department to improve its promotional activities.
61.
Although I am satisfied that my overall expenditure
proposals for 1988-89 can be contained within my budgetary strategy this means, as I have said, a growth in the civil service establishment of about 4%. Of the total staff growth some 26% will accrue to the Medical and Health Department and 15% to the Police. It is likely that we shall witness a similar
overall growth rate in 1989-90, but I shall
shall look for а move towards our 23% guideline thereafter.
62.
I have provided for transfers amounting to $7.4 billion from General Revenue Account to our various funds
in 1988-89 to support the activities they finance. The transfers are broadly sufficient to ensure that the balances in the funds are maintained in real terms. I have also taken into
account a switch of certain items to the Capital Works Reserve Fund in 1988-89 which were previously
Revenue Account.
funded from General
/63. Overall
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