14
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
+ THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLINED PERSONNEL IN THE REGULAR FORCE WILL INCREASE FROM 23 476 AT THE END OF 1982 TO ABOUT 24 420 AT THE END OF 1983, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT FOUR PER CENT.
+THIS IS BELOW THE FIVE PER CENT GROWTH RATE IMPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
+PERHAPS SOME RE-CONSIDERATION MAY BE IN ORDER.+
MR WONG ALSO SPOKE OF THE POSSIBLE SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR WHICH, IF REQUIRED, WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTE OF $1.3 BILLION.
BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR SHOULD NOT EXCEED FIVE PER CENT, WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO SOME $700 MILLION.
+THIS WOULD LEAVE SOME $600 MILLION IN THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTE FOR UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES,+ HE SAID.
CALL FOR CONCESSION IN PROPERTY RATES
****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SOME CONCESSION OVER THE PERCENTAGE TO BE CHARGED FOR PROPERTY RATES AND MAKE UP THE LOSS THROUGH INCREASED PROF IT TAX, THE HON WONG LAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY,
MANY OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REVENUE-BOOSTING PROPOSALS REFLECTED THE SPIRIT OF HIS STATED TASK TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE SUCCESSFUL AND THE POOR BY IMPROVING THE LATTER'S LOT, MR WONG SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE PERCENTAGE TO BE LEVIED FOR RATES TO 13-1/2 PER CENT DEPARTS FROM THIS SPIRIT+ AND +DESERVES AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION+.
ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S ESTIMATE, THE CHANGE WOULD MEAN A 17.4 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE URBAN RATES, MR WONG NOTED.
ON THE SURFACE. THE RICH OWNERS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THIS INCREASE, BUT NOT ALL THE OWNERS ARE RICH, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT WORSE STILL, RATE-PAYERS WERE OFTEN NOT EVEN QUALIFIED TO BE OWNERS BUT WERE ONLY TENANTS WITH AVERAGE INCOMES.
/MR WONG