WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1985
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INSTEAD, COSTS OF ALL LEAVE AND SCHOOL PASSAGES, UP TO THE APPROVED LIMIT, WERE PAID DIRECTLY BY THE GOVERNMENT TO EITHER THE AUTHORISED TRAVEL AGENTS OR AIRLINES WITH WHOM THE OFFICERS BOOKED THE IR PASSAGES.
SECTION 9 (1)(A) OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE PROVIDED A STATUTORY EXEMPTION IN RESPECT OF ANY HOLIDAY WARRANT OR PASSAGE, PROVIDED THE VALUE OR ALLOWANCE FOR THE PURCHASE OF ANY SUCH HOLIDAY WARRANT OR PASSAGE WAS USED OR EXPENDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAVEL.
+THIS STATUTORY EXEMPTION NATURALLY APPLIES EQUALLY TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
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SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR THIRD QUARTER ****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1984-85 AMOUNTED TO $441.3 MILLION.
SIR JOHN SAID THAT THIS SUM INCLUDED $338.1 MILLION FOR A PAYMENT TO THE MASS TRANSIT FUND: $248.1 MILLION TO ENABLE THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO PAY THE PREMIUM FOR THE PAK CHAI WAN DEPOT AND THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ABOVE PLUS $90 MILLION TO MEET ITS LIABILITY FOR RATES FOR OPERATIONAL AND WORKS AREAS IN 1985-86 AND 1986-87 BOTH BY WAY OF EQUITY ISSUE TO THE GOVERNMENT.
OTHER MAJOR PROVISIONS INCLUDED $28.5 MILLION FOR A GRANT TO THE ARTS CENTRE TO ENABLE IT TO REPAY A BANK SYNDICATED LOAN AND A LOAN FROM THE GOVERNMENT WITH ACCUMULATED INTEREST: $16 MILLION FOR THE BUILDING COST OF TWO NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTES IN 1984-85; $8.4 MILLION TO MEET INCREASED EXPENDITURE ON REFUNDS OF RENTS AND RATES TO KINDERGARTENS; $6.6 MILLION TO MEET INCREASED EXPENDITURE FOR ENGAGING LAWYERS AND EXPERT WITNESSES IN CONNECTION WITH CONTRACTUAL DISPUTES AND CRIMINAL CASES: $5.2 MILLION TO MEET ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ON MAINTENANCES AND REPAIRS OF GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS: AND $4.8 MILLION FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED EXPENSES FOR THE STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY.
+THE TRANSFER TO THE MASS TRANSIT FUND FOR PAYMENT OF LAND PREMIUM IS TO BE OFFSET BY LAND REVENUE OF THE SAME AMOUNT AND THE GRANT TO THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE IS TO BE OFFSET BY A MATCHING TRANSFER TO GENERAL REVENUE FROM THE SPECIAL COIN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT,+ HE SAID.
+OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS APPROVED HAVE BEEN OFFSET EITHER BY SAVINGS UNDER THE SAME OR OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE OR BY DELETION OF FUNDS UNDER THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTES,+ SIR JOHN ADDED.
/IN THE