WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
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+ THERE IS BASICALLY NO DIFFERENCE IN SUCH POLICIES IN URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AS THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT IS THE SAME URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN BOTH GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, + HE ADDED.
+SHOULD THE FINAL DECISION BE MADE TO SET UP A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE COULD BE CONFUSION IF THE TWO COUNCILS ADOPT DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON THE SAME POLICY MATTER. +THEREFORE, ONE RE-CONSTITUTED, ENLARGED COUNCIL FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY WOULD ENSURE UNIFORMITY AND CONSISTENCY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDING POLICIES, MR HU SAID.
HE ADDED THAT FINANCIALLY, THE COST FOR ONE COUNCIL WOULD BE LESS THAN THE COST FOR TWO COUNCILS DUE TO SAVINGS FOR INSTANCE IN ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, AND THE TIME SPENT BY CIVIL SERVANTS IN ATTENDING TO COUNCIL MATTERS.
+WHETHER THE MONEY COMES FROM RATES OR GENERAL REVENUE IS IRRELEVANT AS BOTH SOURCES ARE PUBLIC MONEY FROM TAX-PAYERS,+ HE SAID.
+WORRY ABOUT ONE ENLARGED COUNCIL BEING TOO LARGE AND UNWIELDLY IS JUST AN ASSESSMENT NOT YET PROVEN, BUT THE SAVING COST FOR ONE ENLARGED COUNCIL IS A CERTAIN ASSESSMENT, HE ADDED.
HE URGED THAT ONE MUST BEAR IN MIND THAT CONTINUOUS URBANISATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD MAKE HONG KONG MORE HOMOGENEOUS AND THERE WOULD BE EVENTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+WITH THE CHANGE OF STATUS OF HONG KONG, THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE TERRITORY REQUIRING ONE COUNCIL ONLY.
+WE MUST HAVE AN OPEN MIND IN FINDING THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS COMPLICATED PROBLEM,+ MR HU SAID.
GOVERNMENT'S GOODWILL BEYOND DOUBT WONG PO-YAN
***
HON WONG PO-YAN WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO CUTBACKS IN THE PROGRAMME OF WORKS FOR 1984-85 IN RESPECT OF LAND PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID THAT HE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO NOTE THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE BUDGETED FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICES, SOCIAL WELFARE AND PUBLIC HOUSING.
+ THE GOVERNMENT'S GOODWILL AND INTENTION FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THE CITIZENS ARE BEYOND ANY DOUBT, MR WONG SAID.
/+HOWEVER, ALL