FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 1984
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THE TWO OFFICIAL MEMBERS STEPPING DOWN FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MARTIN ROWLANDS, AND THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, MR G.P. NAZARETH. THE IR DEPARTURE FROM THE COUNCIL DOES NOT AFFECT THE IR POSTS WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATION. THE NUMBER OF OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,
NCLUDING THE THREE EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, WILL THUS BE REDUCED FROM 18 TO 16, GIVING THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS A NEARLY 2:1 MAJORITY. THE GREEN PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT ENVISAGES THAT BY 1985 THERE SHOULD BE 13 OFFICIAL MEMBERS, AND BY 1988 TEN OFFICIAL MEMBERS.
THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN COMMENTED THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY, AS PERMANENT HEAD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, COULD BE EXPECTED HENCEFORTH TO SPEAK ON CIVIL SERVICE MATTERS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SIMILARLY COULD SPEAK ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO LEGISLATION. THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE LAW DRAFTSMAN WITH THE COUNCIL HAD BEEN RECOGNISED IN HIS APPOINTMENT AS COUNSEL TO THE LEGISLATURE, A ROLE INTRODUCED IN AN AMENDMENT MADE TO STANDING ORDERS AT THE END OF THE LAST SESSION.
THE RE-APPOINTMENTS TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ARE MR 0.V. CHEUNG AND MR LI FOOK-WO, WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE COUNCIL SINCE 1974 AND 1978 RESPECTIVELY; AND MR D.C. BRAY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, AND MR D. AKERS-JONES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. MR CHEUNG AND MR AKERS-JONES ARE RE-APPOINTED FOR TWO YEARS, MR LI FOR ONE YEAR, AND MR BRAY UNTIL DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR, AFTER WHICH HE IS DUE TO RETIRE FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE RE-APPOINTMENTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARE MR FRANCIS TIEN YUAN-HAO, MR ALEX WU SHU-CHIH, MR PETER C. WONG, MR WONG LAM, DR HO KAM-FAI, MR ALLEN LEE PENG-FEI, MR ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, MR HU FA-KUANG, MR WONG PO-YAN AND MR J. J. SWAINE. THESE RE-APPOINTMENTS ARE ALL FOR ONE YEAR, SO THAT ALL CURRENT APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL, AND THE THREE NEW APPOINTMENTS, WILL EXPIRE IN THE SUMMER OF 1985. THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER ARE THAT THE FIRST MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED BY THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF REGIONAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS AND BY FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD TAKE THE IR SEATS IN 1985, FOLLOWING THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN THAT YEAR.
EXPANSION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION IMPORTANT FOR FUTURE
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FEW DAY-TO-DAY ISSUES FACING THE GOVERNMENT ARE MORE IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG'S FUTURE THAN THE CONTROLLED EXPANSION OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
+ THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE CITY POLYTECHNIC AT A TIME WHEN REVENUE WAS UNDER PRESSURE WAS A MAJOR INDICATION OF LONG-TERM POLICY. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT WE NOW HAVE OVER 27 300 STUDENTS IN POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, AT A COST TO THE TAXPAYER OF NO LESS THAN $1 570 MILLION PER YEAR, HE SAID.
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