WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981
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THERE WOULD BE 12 500 UNITS A YEAR FOR SALE AT PRICES WELL WITHIN THE HEANS OF THE MIDDLE AND LOWER-MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS, INSULATED AGAINST THE VAGAR IES OF THE LAND MARKET.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO GAVE A DETAILED REVIEW OF PROGRESS IN THE SOCIAL PROGRAMMES RELATING TO EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL SERVICES AND LABOUR, OUTLINING VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSIONS.
HE THANKED THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY AND GOOD HUMOUR WITH WHICH THEY HAD ACCEPTED THE MEASURES INTRODUCED LAST OCTOBER TO DETER ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, BUT CAUTIONED THAT HONG KONG MUST REMAIN ON ITS GUARD EVEN THOUGH THE NUMBERS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAD NOW BEEN GREATLY REDUCED.
HE WAS CONCERNED, HOWEVER, OVER THE NUMBER OF LEGAL ARRIVALS FROM CHINA WHO ADDED 55 000 PEOPLE TO OUR POPULATION EACH YEAR.
THE GOVERNOR SAID SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS CONTINUED TO BE EXCELLENT IN THEMSELVES AND OVER HONG KONG, AND HE NOTED WITH SATISFACTION THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION BETWEEN AGENCIES OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESSMEN IN HONG KONG, GUANGDONG AND OTHER PART OF CHINA.
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ON RELATIONS WITH THE UK, SIR MURRAY EXPRESSED REGRET THAT THE INCREASE IN UNIVERSITY FEES AND THE NATIONAL ITY BILL HAD BEEN SEEN BY SOME AFFECTED AS DELIBERATE POLICY OF DISENGAGEMENT BY BRITAIN.
THESE, HE SAID, HAD BEEN PROMPTED BY PURELY UK CONSIDERATIONS AND WERE TOTALLY UNCONNECTED WITH HONG KONG. INDEED IT IS IRONIC THAT SUCH INTENTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUSPECTED OF A UK GOVERNMENT WHOSE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL TO HONG KONG AND FREQUENTLY SPOKEN SO WARMLY OF IT, HE ADDED.
PUBLIC FINANCES +VERY SATISFACTORY+
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THE STATE OF HONG KONG'S PUBLIC FINANCES REMAINED VERY SATISFACTORY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR MURRAY, SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PREDICTED THAT IF THE PRESENT TREND CONTINUED REVENUE WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY EXCEED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE AND THE BUDGETED SURPLUS OF $7 800 MILLION WOULD BE SURPASSED, THEREBY REINFORCING ITS DISINFLATIONARY EFFECT.
+REVENUE COLLECTIONS SO FAR THIS YEAR HAVE EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS, DUE LARGELY TO HIGH YIELDS FROM INTEREST TAX AND STAMP DUTIES, AND OF COURSE LAND SALES, HE SAID.
HE SAID