FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1982
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SPECIAL TRAIN SERVICES FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS
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THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WILL START RUNNING SPECIAL PASSENGER TRAINS TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO COPE WITH THE EXPECTED LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE GOING TO CHINA FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT DURING THE NINE-DAY PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 18 TO 26, ONE SPECIAL UP-TRAIN WILL LEAVE KOWLOON STATION AT 7.14 AM DAILY.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 16 NORTHBOUND AND 17 SOUTHBOUND TRAINS BETWEEN KOWLOON AND LO WU EACH DAY.
TO COPE WITH PASSENGERS RETURNING FROM CHINA AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, FOUR SPECIAL TRAINS WILL OPERATE FROM DECEMBER 26 TO JANUARY 3, 1983, LEAVING LO WU STATION AT 1.22 PM, 4.34 PM, 6.17 PM AND 7.37 PM.
TIMETABLES FOR THE SPECIAL TRAINS ARE DISPLAYED AT ALL
STATIONS.
PUBLIC FINANCE BILL ***
A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME A STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC FINANCES OF HONG KONG IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THE NEED FOR THE BILL, AS EXPLAINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN RECENT BUDGET SPEECHES, WAS IDENTIFIED AS A RESULT OF AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG'S ADMINISTRATION OF THE PRESENT SIZE AND SCOPE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S ACTIVITIES.
THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION IS DERIVED FROM THE LETTERS PATENT, THE ROYAL INSTRUCTIONS AND COLONIAL REGULATIONS. BUT TO A LARGE EXTENT THE SYSTEM ALSO REFLECTS CONVENTIONS AND PRACTICES ADOPTED OVER THE YEARS AND FOR WHICH NO FORMAL AUTHORITIES CAN NOW BE TRACED.
THE PUBLIC FINANCE BILL 1982 IS DESIGNED TO CLARIFY THE FINANCIAL AUTHORITIES AND TO BRING THEM TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
+ IT DOES NOT INTRODUCE ANY BASIC CHANGE IN THE PRESENT SYSTEM, WHICH IN ESSENCE MEETS CURRENT NEEDS, HE ADDED.
THE BILL STIPULATES, FOR INSTANCE, THAT MONEY RECEIVED FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE GOVERNMENT SHALL FORM PART OF THE GENERAL REVENUE AND LAYS DOWN THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE THAT NO EXPENDITURE MAY BE CHARGED ON THE GENERAL REVENUE WITHOUT STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
THE GENERAL REVENUE IS DESCRIBED IN THE BILL AS BEING PART OF THE +PUBLIC MONEYS+, THE CUSTODY OF WHICH IS GOVERNED BY DETAILED PROVISIONS.
/AT PRESENT