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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. CHOI (in Cantonese): For my own well, even when we had water supplied once every 4 days, I still had water. Of course, the water can only be collected from a level of 150 ft., it cannot be more than that, but recently, we have a much more modernized programme of opening up wells, and I believe that we can open up much bigger wells.
Chairman (in English):—Dr. HUANG, would you care to just disregard that supplementary and I'll ask Mr. Lawrence FUNG to ask a supplementary question first.
MR. FUNG (in English):—Mr. Chairman, I am very happy to hear from Dr. HUANG that he too would like to wash the streets more frequently, assuming water is available. May I suggest to the Urban Services Department, to consider using salt water to wash the road surfaces and the flyovers and exclude the pavements, because we might damage other people's goods on the side walks, why can't we use the salt water?
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, talking about using of sea water, I think it could only be used in a limited sense. For instance, if it is splashed onto the vehicles parked nearby, I don't believe any one would like to have their vehicles splashed by sea water. So, that would cause opposition from the general public and also our people will be worried about the damage caused by sea water and I think this matter has been discussed on a number of occasions in the past, and we felt that it was not too realistic and that's why we all sincerely hope that the Water Works Department will relax the water restrictions.
MR. CHOI (in Cantonese):-Could I ask Dr. HUANG to answer my question? The modern method of making wells is that, whenever it reaches a level of 150 ft. then you would have ample supply of water. So, for that reason, I think we can make use of the open space or in public gardens to dig wells up to 150 ft. and after that, I think we can have ample supplies of water and to remove dust from the road surface.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese): --Mr. Chairman, of course I understand Mr. CHOI is not an expert in opening up wells, but I think this is a good suggestion and I will pass his remarks to the Urban Services Department to analyse the cost for such work.
MR. YOUNG (in Cantonese):----Mr. Chairman, Dr. HUANG mentioned something about his own well, saying that his well had dried. Something we also mentioned is cost, so perhaps we can sum up Dr. HUANG's saying that we have to have money before we can dig wells.
DR. HUANG (in Cantonese):-I fully agree with what Mr. YOUNG has said.
MOTION
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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CHAIRMAN moved the following motion:-
"THAT the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 1982-83 and the list of works which the Council proposes to undertake during the next financial year be approved for transmission to the Governor in accordance with Section 39 of the Urban Council Ordinance."
He said (in English):-Section 39(1) of the Urban Council Ordinance provides that the Council shall prepare and furnish to the Governor by November 30 each year Estimates of its Revenue and Expenditure for the ensuing financial year.
To conform with this Section, I now present for adoption by Council the 1982-83 Budget.
Councillors will note that total expenditure is estimated at $1,263,876,300.00 against revenue estimated at $716,338,000.00. The deficit amount in the budget is therefore $547,538,300.00. The accumulated reserves of the Urban Council are estimated to be $293 million at the commencement of the 1982-83 financial year, and therefore fall far short of this deficit.
In the Summary of Revenue and Expenditure, there is a breakdown of Operational, Non-Recurrent and Capital expenditures. The eleven Select Committees concerned have during the past month examined carefully their own budgetary requirements (as shown) and are satisfied with the figures indicated in this Summary.
The increase in Capital Expenditure from $89.6 million in 1980-81, to $135.9 million (revised estimate) in 1981-82, to $228.7 million in 1982-83, is an indication of the priority given by the Council among other things to building new markets and rebuilding the old markets, with their multi-purpose marketing, sports, library and cultural facilities for the benefit of the four million residents living in the ten urban districts.
A list of the Capital Works projects is attached to the Budget showing the many environmental, recreation, sports and cultural projects in the pipeline in all ten urban districts.
The total amount to be spent on capital works in 1982-83 amounts to only 18% of the gross expenditure, and none of these projects can be described as extravagant or unnecessary. More than 50% of the gross expenditure will go on staff salaries, over which the Urban Council has no control, and it is this that largely causes the deficit.
Furthermore, the Council and the Department work closely together with a view to reduce waste and improve productivity and efficiency. Recently, the
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