WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985
31
PUBLIC SECTOR DROPS 16 PER CENT
***
THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR WILL HAVE DROPPED BY 16 PER CENT SINCE 1982-83 IF THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTED, SAID SIR JOHN.
+THIS IS BETTER THAN EXPECTED AND OF GREAT IMPORTANCE. FOR MONEY HAS BECOME A TOUGH CRITERION.
+1 REGARD FRUGALITY AS AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF GOOD GOVERNMENT AS IT IS OF GOOD BUSINESS.
VALUE
+MOREOVER IN A DEFICIT SITUATION TAXPAYERS PRESSED FOR HIGHER GOVERNMENT REVENUE HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT PARALLEL PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE THERE CLEARLY HAS BEEN, HE SAID.
STABILISATION OF CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT WAS CLEARLY AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF CONTROL OF EXPENDITURE, SAID SIR JOHN.
+ IT IS HOWEVER, PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT WHEN PER CAPITA GDP IS RISING AND PUBLIC ASPIRATIONS DEMAND MORE SERVICES, FOR WHICH NEW STAFF HAS TO BE PROVIDED. PRODUCTIVITY HAS OBVIOUSLY INCREASED AND IS STILL INCREASING, HE SAID.
'SMALL INCREASES' IN FEES AND CHARGES ***
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PROPOSED +RELATIVELY SMALL INCREASES+ IN FOUR AREAS OF GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES TO RAISE $195 MILLION FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
THESE ARE POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATION FEES AND CHARGES; TOLLS FOR GOVERNMENT-OPERATED TUNNELS; VEHICLE AND DRIVING LICENCES AND PASSENGER EMBARKATION FEES AND BERTHING FEES FOR MACAU FERRY SERVICES.
OUTLINING HIS PROPOSALS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR JOHN SAID THE MAJORITY OF POSTAL CHARGES HAD NOT BEEN REVIEWED FOR TWO OR MORE YEARS.
+SINCE THE REAL VALUES OF THESE CHARGES SHOULD NOT FURTHER BE ERODED, I SHALL BE PROPOSING A PACKAGE OF MODERATE INCREASES THAT IS ESTIMATED TO YIELD AN ADDITIONAL $70 MILLION IN REVENUE TO TAKE EFFECT AS FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 1985, + HE SAID.
+THIS INCLUDES A TIDYING UP OF TELECOMMUNICATION LICENCE FEES, HE ADDED.
/INCLUDED IN