TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1385
MINISTER RETURNING TO UK
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LORD YOUNG, MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO, WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING AFTER A FOUR-DAY STAY IN HONG KONG,
LORD YOUNG WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT BR 381, ETD 8.50 PM.
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL SEE HIM OFF.
GOVERNMENT'S GOODWILL NEEDED IN FINANCIAL TALKS
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MR. H.M.G. FORSGATE, ACTING CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, TODAY CALLED ON THE GOODWILL OF THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE COUNCIL REMOVE THE FINANCIAL CLOUD NOW HANGING OVER IT.
MR. FORSGATE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE, IS TO LEAD A THREE-MAN. TEAM TO JOIN IN TALKS WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON THE FUTURE OF THE COUNCIL'S FINANCES. THE OTHER TWO MEMBERS ARE MR. STEPHEN LAU AND MR. PETER C.K. CHAN.
MR. KWAN LIM-HO HAS AGREED TO ACT AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEMBER ON BEHALF OF THE ELECTED COUNCILLORS SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.
ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, MR. FORSGATE SAID: +1 AM SURE WE WILL BE OF ONE MIND IN TRYING TO PROVE TO THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS, DRAWN UP IN THE EARLY 70'S, MUST BE STREAMLINED AND UPDATED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FINANCIAL AND POLITICAL REALITIES OF THE MID-80'S, PARTICULARLY AS THE COUNCIL'S COMMITMENTS HAVE FOR SOME YEARS EXCEEDED ITS INCOME.
J
+WE HAVE SO FAR MANAGED TO MAINTAIN AND IN SOME CASES UPGRADE SERVICES, AND TO CONTINUE OUR CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME OF BUILDING MORE FACILITIES AND AMENITIES, SOLELY BY DIPPING INTO OUR RESERVES.
+BUT THESE RESERVES ARE SHRINKING FAST, AND IT IS ONLY PLAIN COMMONSENSE TO ACT NOW BEFORE WE FIND OURSELVES IN THE RED, WITH NO RESERVES BUT STILL WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THEY EXPECT AND ARE
ENTITLED TO.+
/MR FORSGATE
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