6
Wednesday, March 14, 1973
On the other hand, he said the Financial Secretary had shown an
"unexpected optimism" in taxi concession as it was doubtful that 1,000 new
licences would bring in $85 million premia in the present climate of the trade,
In Mr. Szeto's view, unless there was a considerable climb down in
the stock market or some urgent measures to arrest or even repress the soaring
land prices, the growth of revenue in 1973-74 should attain a higher rate
than three per cent over the revised estimate for 1972-73.
He went on to say that there was pressing need for residential land
and this need had directed developers to search in the rural areas near the
new towns, and Sha Tin had become a focus with its prospect of improved
transportation in the very near future.
Civil Service
He proposed that perhaps present circumstances would warrant a re-
examination of the approved Sha Tin town plan with a view to expanding its
capacity as a dormitory town by pushing back the green belt.
Referring to the rising cost of the civil service, Mr. Szeto was
of the opinion that recent years' accelerated tempo of development justified a
reasonable expansion, but unreasonable increase must be rejected.
The proposed 109,495-strong public service establishment for 1973-74,
consisting 97,042 permanent posts and 12,453 supernumerary, exceeds the 1972-73
total 98,459 by 6.7 per cent.
He hoped that the Establishment Sub-Committee of the Legislative
Council would keep a vigilant watch on "any symptoms of Parkinson Disease and
nip the ambition of any Government department aspiring the role of an octopus",
An all