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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1950
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HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THIS PROPOSAL AND MAKE A DETERMINED EFFORT TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO EXPAND SUCH FACILITIES.
TURNING TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE CLASS REVIEW, DR FANG PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR FOR THE IR +SENSIBLE AND WELL-DISCIPLINED ATTITUDE IN THIS MATTER.
HE SAID : +1 SHOULD LIKE AN ASSURANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT IT IS ITS INTENTION TO TREAT VOLUNTARY AGENCY STAFF EQUALLY AND EQUITABLY WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT COUNTERPARTS AND THAT ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENTS THAT MAY ARISE FROM THE PRESENT REVIEW OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR WILL APPLY RETROACTIVELY FROM APRIL 1979.-
DR FANG ALSO PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME TO STUDENTS IN FORM IV TO FORM VII WHO ARE NOT AT PRESENT COVERED BY ANY SPECIFIC HEALTH CARE SCHEME.
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DEPENDENCE ON CAPITAL REVENUE SHOULD BE REDUCED
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THE GOVERNMENT MUST REDUCE ITS DEPENDENCE ON LARGE CAPITAL REVENUE BECAUSE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO RAISE IN FUTURE, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID THE ESTIMATED CAPITAL REVENUE FOR 1980/81 WOULD FINANCE AS MUCH AS 90 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
*WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BULK OF THIS STAGGERING SUM IS TO BE REALISED FROM LAND SALES WHICH MEANS THAT ALMOST ALL WILL HAVE TO COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
+WILL THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAVE THE ABILITY TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASES WITHOUT SERIOUSLY AFFECTING ITS ABILITY TO FINANCE INVESTMENTS IN OTHER AREAS SUCH AS CAPITAL PLANT AND MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR?
+ALSO IN THE LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS WILL THE PROJECTED LAND SALES BRING IN THE ANTICIPATED REVENUE?
+WOULD IT THEREFORE BE ADVISABLE TO CONTINUE RELYING HEAVILY ON INCOME FROM LAND SALES TO SUSTAIN A HEAVY CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN FUTURE YEARS?+ HE ASKED.
MR CHEN ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE GROWING PROPORTION OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BOTH IN ABSOLUTE TERMS AS WELL AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE,
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED PROVISION OF $7 326 MILLION FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE FOR 1980/81 REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 42 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1979/80 OR ALMOST 80 PER CENT ABOVE THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.
ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET SPEECH, MR CHEN SAID, THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S SHARE OF THE OUTPUT OF THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN 1980 IS ALSO ESTIMATED TO INCREASE TO 49 PER CENT ONCE AGAIN.