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THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 1974
HEUNG YEE KUK/NTA HEETING
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HEUNG YEE KUK LEADERS TODAY RESPONDED TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MR. HADDON-CAVE'S CALL FOR A PUBLIC DEBATE ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC FUTURE.
THE KUK'S VIEWS ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE ECONOMIC POLICY WERE GIVEN TO MR. DEREK JONES, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES AT A MEETING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS.
THE MEETING, DIVIDED INTO TWO SESSIONS, WAS PRESIDED OVER BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND ATTENDED BY 16 KUK OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN, AND THE TWO VICE-CHA IRMEN, MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AND MR. LAM SHUE-CHUN.
QUESTIONS ON LAND AND HOUSING PROBLEMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE DISCUSSED AT THE FIRST SESSION.
KUK LEADERS STRESSED THE NEED FOR A FAIR AND ACCEPTABLE POLICY GOVERNING THE QUESTIONS OF RESUMPTION, EXCHANGE, PREMIUM AND CLEARANCES. MR. AKERS-JONES REPLIED THAT HE HAD SUBMITTED CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION AND WAS AWAITING A REPLY.
IN THEIR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ECONOMIC SECRETARY, MR. DEREK JONES, KUK MEMBERS SAID THAT THEY WOULD RATHER SEE NO CUT-BACKS IN PUBLIC SPENDING AND THAT ADDITIONAL REVENUE SHOULD BE SOUGHT OUTSIDE THE FISCAL SYSTEM.
THE MEMBERS SAW NO OBJECTION TO BORROWING FUNDS FROM OVERSEAS AND SUGGESTED THAT MORE MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS BE GIVEN TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISES TO UNDERTAKE.
THEY ALSO FELT THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING REDUNDANCY AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY.
MEMBERS FELT THAT SPENDING ON PROGRAMMES SUCH AS THE FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE SUSPENDED, AND THAT TRAVELLING EXPENSES FOR EX-PATRIATE OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES GOING ON HOME LEAVE TEMPORARILY STOPPED.
THE HUGE DEFICIT SUSTAINED EACH YEAR BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THEY SAID, SHOULD BE REDUCED, POINTING OUT THAT IT WAS UNFAIR TO THE TAXPAYERS TO BEAR THE BRUNT.
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KUK MEMBERS FELT 'THAT WATER CHARGES SHOULD NOT BE INCREASED AS REVENUE DERIVED FROM IT WOULD BE RELATIVELY SMALL.
/THE ISSUE