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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1976
CENTRAL CONTROL OF REVENUE-EARNING DEPARTMENTS FAVOURED *****
CENTRAL CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT'S REVENUE-EARNING ESTABLISHMENTS ALLOWS FOR MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF LIMITED FINANCIAL AND OTHER RESOURCES, AND KEEPS THE OVERHEADS OF THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED LOW, THE ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DENIS BRAY, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ALEX WU WHO WANTED TO KNOW THE GOVERNMENT'S PRESENT VIEWS ON THE DESIRABILITY OF ESTABLISHING AS SEPARATE CORPORATIONS ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY, KAI TAK AIRPORT AND THE WATERWORKS OFFICE.
+BASICALLY THE SAMLL SIZE OF HONG KONG AND ITS CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE DO NOT DICTATE DECENTRALISATION,+ MR. BRAY SAID.
TO SPLIT OFF THE ESTABLISHMENTS AND TO PLACE THEM UNDER STATUTORY BODIES WITH THEIR OWN SOURCES OF REVENUE WOULD ONLY REDUCE THE FLEXIBILITY AND INCREASE THEIR OVERHEADS, HE SAID.
HE ADDED: THE OTHER ADVANTAGES OF MAINTAINING A CENTRALISED SYSTEM ARE FIRST, THAT IT ENABLES THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG TO BE PLANNED AS A WHOLE SECOND
SECOND. THAT OVERALL PRIORITIES CAN BE PROPERLY DETERMINED AND THIRD, THAT IT ENSURES THE UNIFORM APPLICATION OF STANDARDS.+
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