21
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1980
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION APPROVED
******
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A FINAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $126 MILLION FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1979-80.
IN MOVING FOR THE APPROVAL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID $33 MILLION OF THE AMOUNT WAS REQUIRED TO AUGMENT PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS SUBHEADS ON ACCOUNT OF THE 1979 SALARIES REVISION, $30 MILLION TO REPAY A LOAN MADE TO GENERAL REVENUE IN 1975, $27 MILLION FOR A TRANSFER OF EXPENDITURE FOR REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BORDER FENCES TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, AND $10 MILLION WAS REQUIRED TO MEET THE INCREASED COSTS OF AND REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL DRUGS FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
+THIS SCHEDULE, SIR PHILIP SAID, +BRINGS THE TOTAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR 1979-80 TO $2 638 MILLION.+
+BUT, BECAUSE OF SAVINGS IN OTHER SUBHEADS, ACTUAL GROSS EXPENDITURE AT $13 872 MILLION FOR THE FULL FINANCIAL YEAR 1979-80 WAS, IN THE EVENT, ONLY $1 418 MILLION MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE,+ HE ADDED.
BILLS PASSED
****
FOUR BILLS WERE PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. THEY WERE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1980, THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, THE EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG (VALIDATION) BILL 1980.
DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1980 WAS ADJOURNED.
HK/US TEXTILE TALKS START NEXT WEEK
****
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED TODAY THAT TALKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES WOULD TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG ON NOVEMBER 13 - 15 IN CONNECTION WITH THE HK/US TEXTILE RESTRAINT AGREEMENT.
EXPLAINING THAT THE TALKS ARE BEING HELD AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE AGREEMENT, THE TWO SIDES WILL CONSULT, AT THE REQUEST OF EITHER SIDE, ON ANY QUESTIONS ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT.+
THE U.S. DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY AMBASSADOR REITER WEBE, THE CHIEF U.S. TEXTILE NEGOTIATOR, AND THE HONG KONG DELEGATION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR PETER TSAO.