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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1981
$57-MILLION IN SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS
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THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE INANCIAL YEAR 1980-81 AMOUNTED TO $57 MILLION,
THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, WHEN HE INTRODUCED A MOTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO SEEK THE COUNCIL'S COVERING AUTHORITY FOR SUCH EXPENDITURE WHICH HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID OF THIS SUM, $22 MILLION WAS REQUIRED TO MEET INCREASES IN RATES OF PAYMENT FOR STANDARD ALLOWANCES, ADDITIONAL DUTY ALLOWANCES AND ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ON LAUNDRY FOR THE POLICE FORCE 9 MILLION FOR VARIOUS PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE AND $8 MILLION FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR CERTA IN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE AUTHORITY ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT DURING 1979-80.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THIS SCHEDULE BROUGHT THE TOTAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR 1980-81 TO $7 873 MILLION AND BECAUSE OF SAVINGS IN OTHER SUBHEADS, ACTUAL GROSS EXPENDITURE FOR THE FULL FINANCIAL YEAR 1980-81 WAS $23 593 MILLION AND ONLY $5 152 MILLION MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.
SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1981-82 AMOUNTED TO $511 MILLION.
+THE MAJOR ITEMS INCLUDE $280 MILLION FOR PAYMENT OF A SPECIAL ONE-OFF GRANT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL TO ENABLE IT TO COVER ITS ESTIMATED DEFICIT IN 1981-82- $45 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE ON A SCHEME FOR PRIVATE DENTAL TREATMENT FOR CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE IR DEPENDANTS- $40 MILLION TO ENABLE THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY (1933) LIMITED TO INTRODUCE A SCALE OF BUS FARES LOWER THAN THAT REQUIRED FOR THE COMPANY TO BREAK EVEN IN 1981, HE SAID.
OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE $40 MILLION FOR THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS- $35 MILLION FOR THE RE-ACTIVATION OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALTER AND 23 MILLION FOR PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OF WATER FROM CHINA.
HE NOTED THAT THE PROVISION COVERED BY THE SCHEDULE RESULTED IN A NET INCREASE OF $35 MILLION IN THE EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR, THE REMAINDER WOULD BE OFFSET UNDER OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE AND BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER THE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTES.
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