11
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1950
+ IF THE INTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF LANTAU MATERIALISES, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AND THE LANTAU FIXED CROSSING, THEN OUR ECONOMICALLY MANAGEABLE POPULATION WOULD PROBABLY BE BETWEEN SIX TO EIGHT MILLION.
+ IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT AN EARLY DECISION BE MADE TO FULLY DEVELOP LANTAU SO AS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE OF WHICH IS LAND, TO COPE WITH OUR LIKELY POPULATION GROWTH, HE SAID.
DR HU REITERATED THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE TERTIARY INDUSTRY AND RE-EXPORT SECTOR TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMY.
THESE TWO SECTORS ARE NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC BASE AND TO GIVE US A BETTER BALANCE AGAINST GLOBAL ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS, HE EXPLAINED,
EMPLOYMENT IN THE TERTIARY INDUSTRY DURING THE THREE YEAR PERIOD FROM 1977 TO 1979 HAD INCREASED BY 24.5 PER CENT. THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THESE TRENDS MAY INCREASE EVEN MORE RAPIDLY IN THE 1980S AND CALLED FOR A MORE DETAILED STUDY TO FURTHER EXPAND THESE SECTORS.
ON THE PATTERN OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY HAD BECOME SO LARGE THAT IT RISKED BECOMING A MACHINE WITHOUT A SOUL+,
+ IT IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE THE SUPERVISION OF PUBLIC SPENDING, TO ENSURE THAT PUBLIC MONEY IS SPENT ACCORDING TO ESTABLISHED POLICIES AND TO MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS AT THE RIGHT TIME BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.+
BUT HE CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT SPENDING ENOUGH ON THE +LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY+ - CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT PROPERLY LOOKED AFTER BY THEIR PARENTS, THE STREET SLEEPERS, THE AGED AND, IN PARTICULAR, THE BOAT DWELLERS.
NEW ARRANGEMENTS TO CREATE POSTS IN CIVIL SERVICE EFFECTIVE NEXT MONTH
*****
THE PRESENT PROCEDURE TO CREATE NEW POSTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL BE CHANGED WITH EFFECT FROM NEXT MONTH, THE HON T.S. LO REVEALED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, AUTHORITY WILL BE DELEGATED TO THE HEAD OF A DEPARTMENT TO REALLOCATE EXISTING FUNCTIONS AND TO CREATE NEW POSTS, OTHER THAN THE DIRECTORATE LEVEL, WITHIN A PREDETERMINED FINANCIAL CEILING WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE BRANCH, ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SPEAKING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE, MR LO SAID +GOING HAND IN HAND WITH THIS WILL BE THAT EACH DEPARTMENT HEAD WILL HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO STREAMLINE THE STAFF STRUCTURE OF HIS DEPARTMENT SO AS TO ACHIEVE OPTIMUM EFFICIENCY.+