THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1976
GOVT'S FAR-REACHING SOCIAL PROGRAMME INVOLVES HEAVY EXPENDITURE
******
HONG KONG'S EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS, WORKING CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL INSURANCE WILL BE RAISED TO LEVELS WHICH WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THOSE OF MOST OF THE COUNTRIES OF ASIA WHEN THE FAR-REACHING PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED BY THE GOVERNOR IS COMPLETE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY IN WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON A MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION.
HE EMPHASISED, HOWEVER, THAT THESE OBJECTIVES WOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT HEAVY EXPENDITURE IN MONEY, MANPOWER AND OTHER RESOURCES.
SIR DENYS AGREED WITH THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THAT IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO PLANS WHICH THE ECONOMY COULD NOT BEAR WITHOUT UNDUE STRAIN.
+HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY DEPENDS UPON OUR ABILITY TO SELL OUR PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD MARKETS AND THAT IT MUST NOT PRESS FOR MEASURES WHICH WILL SERIOUSLY WEAKEN OUR COMPETITIVENESS, + HE SAID. +FOR UPON OUR CONTINUED SUCCESS AS A TRADER DEPENDS THE REVENUE WHICH PAYS FOR OUR SOCIAL WELFARE.+
WHILE STRESSING THAT SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT WAS ESSENTIAL, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID +WE MUST NOT DISCOUNT THE POSSIBILITY THAT, IF NECESSARY, ADDITIONAL TAXATION, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT, MAY HAVE TO BE IMPOSED IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE WHOLLY ADMIRABLE AIMS WHICH WE HAVE NOW SET OURSELVES, THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT FORGET THAT LOW RATES OF TAXATION ARE A VITAL ELEMENT IN OUR DEVELOPMENT AND IN THE CONTINUED EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.+
HE REFERRED TO THE WARNING FROM THE UNOFFICIALS THAT HONG KONG MUST NOT SUCCUMB TO PRESSURE FROM ABROAD FOR SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH MIGHT BE SO EXPENSIVE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS UPON OUR ECONOMY.
/SIR DENYS