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+
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985
WHILE CONCEDING THAT IN TIMES OF FINANCIAL STRINGENCY, IT WAS DIFFICULT, EVEN IMPOSSIBLE, TO SATISFY THE MANY COMPETING CLAIMS FOR FUNDING, HOWEVER WORTHY THEY MIGHT ALL BE, HE SAID IN THE PROCESS OF ASSESSING PRIORITIES, ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE NOT CLASSIFIED AS ESSENTIAL SERVICES - THOSE WHICH DO NOT OBVIOUSLY CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS BUILDING THE ECONOMY ARE INEVITABLY AND INVARIABLY BUDGETARY CASUALTIES.+
HOWEVER, MR WU SAID, EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF ALL KINDS WERE AS VITAL AS WERE ECONOMIC SERVICES TO THE WELL-BEING OF OUR SOCIETY, AND TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE FULFILMENT OF GENERATIONS TO COME.
+WE HAVE PLANTED THE SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE. WE MUST AVOID DAMAGING THE GROWTH OF VIGOROUS YOUNG PLANTS FOR REASONS OF SHORT- TERM EXPEDIENCY, HE SAID.
BUT
+1 HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES AFFECTED BY THESE MEASURES APPRECIATE GOVERNMENT'S DILEMMA. GOVERNMENT IN TURN MUST RECOGNISE THAT IT HAS DEALT A HARSH BLOW WHICH WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT IN SOME CASES TO MAINTAIN THE ENVISAGED GROWTH, MR WU SAID.
HE THEREFORE STRONGLY URGED THAT THE LEVELS OF PROVISION MADE AVAILABLE IN 1985/86 IN THESE AREAS WOULD NOT BE USED AS THE BASIS OF FUNDING IN THE FUTURE.
+LET US NOT BE SHORT SIGHTED, AND LET US BEAR IN MIND THAT THE QUALITY OF OUR HUMAN RESOURCES IS AT STAKE, MR WU SAID.
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