THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
4
HE CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD BE OF MORE DIRECT RELEVANCE TO PGRADE THE SKILL AND EFFICIENCY OF THE WORKERS.
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE INITIATIVE OF VARIOUS FINANCIAL ISTITUTIONS IN PROVIDING SPECIAL CREDIT LINE/FACILITIES FOR SKALL AND MEDIUM SIZED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WOULD PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO RECOUP, CONSOLIDATE AND ADJUST TO MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES+.
TURNING TO PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE FOR THE COMING YEAR,
MR WONG NOTED THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WAS ENVISAGED AT $15.8 BILLION OR 37 PER CENT OF TOTAL PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE. THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FROM THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN 1983-84 IS $7.6 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF $355 MILLION OR 5 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1982-83.
HE WAS GLAD THAT PRIORITY HAD BEEN ACCORDED TO LAND PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT AND HOUSING PROJECTS, I AM PARTICULARLY HEARTENED BY GOVERNMENT'S DETERMINATION IN KEEPING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS,
+FOR THE COMING YEAR, $3.7 BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON
THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, WHILE FOR THE COMING FOUR YEARS, A TOTAL OF 164 228 FLATS, AN AVERAGE OF 41 000 FLATS A YEAR WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER THE VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT HAD YET BEEN MADE ON THE LONG AWAITED EXHIBITION CENTRE BECAUSE THE PROPOSED PROJECT HAS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN THE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG AS A TRADE CENTRE+.
ON RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, HE NOTED THAT THE TOTAL FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS ESTIMATED AT $23:8 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF $3 BILLION IN MONEY TERMS OR AN INCREASE OF 14.5' PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1982-83.
THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE POSTS SHOWN IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES IS 144 503, EXCLUSIVE OF 29 160 POSTS IN THE URBAN SERVICES AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE 'CONSCIOUS EFFORT DURING THE YEAR TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT', THAT 6 665 NEW POSTS WERE CREATED DURING 1982-83 OUT OF A PROVISION FOR 16 500.
+HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH THIS CONSTRAINT WILL CONTINUE IN 1983-84', WE CAN EXPECT A FURTHER INCREASE OF 6 700 POSTS IN 1983-84.
+I ACCEPT THAT EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS NECESSITATES A PROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN STAFF MANPOWER, BUT I DO NOT THINK ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY WOULD DISPUTE THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE COULD BE IMPROVED IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. FURTHER, IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE AREAS COULD LEAD TO STAFF SAVINGS.
+IK EXCEPTIONALLY