WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982
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TURNING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HE NOTED THAT ANOTHER 16 500 POSTS WOULD BE CREATED IN 1982-83 ON TOP OF THE 12 000 POSTS CREATED IN 1981-82.
WHILE HOPING THAT MOST OF THESE POSTS WOULD GO INTO AREAS OF REAL NEED WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE A DIRECT IMPACT, SUCH AS MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WORK, DR HUANG POINTED OUT THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER IS LIKELY TO SEEP THROUGH INTO THOSE AREAS OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR WHICH HAVE LESS WELL JUSTIFIED THE IR EXISTENCE IN TERMS OF PRODUCTIVITY OR EFFECTIVENESS.
+FREEZING OF ANY EXPANSION IN THOSE AREAS WOULD RELEASE RESOURCES INTO AREAS WHICH WARRANT A HIGHER DEGREE OF PRIORITY.
DR HUANG ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE ALLOCATION FOR SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION WAS ONLY 12.9 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS OR 3.9 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS MORE THAN THAT FOR LAST YEAR ON THE BASIS OF THE PREDICTED NINE PER CENT GDP DEFLATOR, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE POPULATION BULGE WAS NOW AT THE SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTE LEVEL. HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE QUALITY OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHING NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED.
+THIS OF COURSE MEANS MORE QUALIFIED TEACHERS AMONG OTHER THINGS, AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO COPE WITH THE CONSIDERABLE INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION WHICH HONG KONG NEEDS.
+THIS WOULD CERTAINLY NOT BE THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM' BUT PROVIDING THE WHEREWITHAL FOR A PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED, HE SAID.
ON SOCIAL WELFARE, DR HUANG FELT THAT THE MODEST INCREASE IN ALLOCATION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE MIGHT BE INADEQUATE IN VIEW OF THE INCREASE SINCE 1971 IN THE PERCENTAGE OF THOSE WHO ARE 65 AND OVER AND THE WIDENING INCOME INEQUALITY IN HONG KONG AS INDICATED BY THE 1981 CENSUS.
HE SAID THE DECLINING CASELOAD OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE COULD BE TAKEN TO REFLECT THE MEAGRE ALLOWANCES AVAILABLE RATHER THAN THE REAL NEED OF THOSE OF OUR NUMBER WHO COULD NOT FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
+ IN THIS CONNECTION I AM GRATIFIED TO NOTE THE TIMELY AND WELL JUSTIFIED INCREASES IN OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES ANNOUNCED ONLY LAST WEEK.
*THE LOOSENING OF FAMILY TIES WHICH HAS COME ABOUT IN RECENT TIMES AND WHICH MANY OF US DEPLORE IS YET ANOTHER FACTOR TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN MAKING FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR THE RETIREMENT YEARS OF OUR ELDERLY PEOPLE, HE SAID.
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