LED'IESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1975
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+THE PROVISION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE ALLOWS FOR AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND FOR DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ADDED THAT THE NEW PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, TWO POLYCLINICS AND A SPECIALIST CLINIC WOULD BE OPENED.
THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS WOULD BE SUBVENTED FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW CENTENARY BLOCK AND THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL TO ENABLE IT TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY FOR A FULL YEAR.
HE SAID: + ALLOWANCE HAS BEEN MADE FOR OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL SUBVENTED ORGANIZATIONS TO MEET INCREASED PRICES, ALTHOUGH THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO ECONOMISE AS WELL.+
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: WE HAVE, UNFORTUNATELY, HAD TO ALLOW FOR A FAIRLY DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE PRISON POPULATION, AND ALSO FOR A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE POLIGE FORCE
TO CONTAIN THE GROWTH OF EXPENDITURE ON PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS, HE SAID, THE NET INCREASE IN THE STRENGTH OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE WOULD BE LIMITED TO 1,600.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS SHOWN IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES REPRESENTED ONLY AN INCREASE OF 0.7 PER CENT ON THE ESTABLISHMENT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
+THIS LIMITING OF INCREASES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT TO ESSENTIAL AREAS ONLY,+ HE SAID, +WILL BE CONTINUED IN 1975-76.+
+PROVISION FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE (INCLUDING ALLOWANCES, BUT EXCLUDING PENSIONS) WILL BE REDUCED BY THIS MEANS TO 39 PER CENT OF TOTAL RECURRENT PROVISIONS, COMPARED WITH 40 PER CENT FOR 1974-75 AND AN AVERAGE OF 42 PER CENT OVER THE THREE YEARS ENDING 1973-74.*
THE ESTIMATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FOR 1975-76 IS $1,997 MILLION. IT REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF ONLY $24 MILLION ON THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1974-75.
THIS FIGURE INCLUDES $556 MILLION FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME ON NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING AND $1,070 MILLION FOR OTHER PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
HOWEVER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EMPHASISED THAT THE INCREASE IN 1974-75 WAS 40 PER CENT AND THE AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE OVER THE THREE YEARS ENDING 1973-74 WAS 37 PER CENT, EXCLUDING TRANSFERS TO THE MASS TRANSIT FUND IN BOTH 1972-73′′ (8500 MILLION) AND 1973-74 ($300 MILLION).
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DESPITE THE ....