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Wednesday, November 1, 1972
NEED FOR ECONOMY IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING
The Hon. H.J.C. Browne today suggested the setting up of a properly
staffed Organisation and Methods Department to examine the work done by government
departments and to review their existing establishments.
This would be in addition to the studies that are carried out by the
present ◊ and M section when a department asks for additional staff.
He said that with the high capital and recurrent expenditure facing
Hong Kong in the future, "there is even more need for economy in government
spending".
He hoped that by decentralising and streamlining, the load at the
top could be better spread and that a determined and sustained effort will be
made in all government departments to increase productivity.
However, he made it clear that Hong Kong was very well served by
the public service, "but the total cost is such a large slice of our annual
expenditure that we must introduce modern techniques to try to keep its size
and its cost down".
Mr. Browne said he was in favour of going ahead with all the major
proposals put forward by the Governor two weeks ago and no doubt the Financial
Secretary would be looking for ways to increase revenue.
"But in my view we cannot afford to introduce fiscal measures that
will disturb the climate that has enabled our economy to develop and thrive,
and made Hong Kong into an important international industrial and commercial
centre," he said.
/On the..
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