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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
+ BELIEVE THAT THE APPARENT DEFICIENCY IN ACCOUNTANTS AND ACCOUNTING EXPERTISE MUST BE MADE GOOD.
IN THIS REGARD, I ALSO SUPPORT FULLY THE HON S.L. CHEN'S RECOMMENDATION IN THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE THAT ALL DIRECTOR GRADE CIVIL SERVANTS SHOULD RECEIVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL TRAINING, + HE ADDED.
MR TONG ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE HON SELINA CHOW,
WHO HAD EARLIER SPOKEN IN FAVOUR OF PRIVATISATION.
WHERE PRIVATE ENTERPRISES COULD PROVIDE A PUBLIC SERVICE BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN GOVERNMENT, THAT SERVICE SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR PRIVATISATION, HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE BUDGET PROVISIONS, MR TONG SAID HE OBJECTED
TO THE PROPOSED DUTY ON COSMETICS ON FINANCIAL GROUNDS.
HE SAID THERE WAS A RISK THAT THE YIELD FROM THIS NEW DUTY MIGHT BE MORE THAN OFFSET BY REVENUE LOSSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE TOURIST TRADE.
ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CRITICALLY REVIEW ITS ENTIRE POLICY OF OVERSEAS TRAINING,
+FROM THE REPLIES GIVEN TO MY QUESTIONS IN EXAMINATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES, I AM NOT SATISFIED THAT ALL THAT CAN BE DONE IS BEING DONE TO LOCALISE TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS.
+I FAIL TO SEE HOW UK CAN TRAIN OUR ICAC OFFICERS BETTER THAN WE CAN, HE SAID.
BUDGET APPROACH LAUDED
*****
IT IS HEARTENING TO SEE THAT GOVERNMENT REMAINS FIRMLY COMMITTED TO A FREE MARKET ECONOMY, TO THE PROVISION OF AN INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN WHICH ENTERPRISE CAN FLOURISH AND TO THE CARE OF THOSE WHO CANNOT CARE FOR THEMSELVES, THE HON SIR ROGER LOBO SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
WINDING UP THE UNOFFICIALS' DEBATE ON THE BUDGET IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR ROGER SAID HE WAS GLAD TO HEAR THAT THE BUDGET WAS NOT JUST A STRING OF FIGURES+ AND THAT GOVERNMENT SAW EQUITY AND EFFICIENCY AS GUIDING PRINCIPLES, TO BE PURSUED WITH A +CALM AND REASONED APPROACH+.
/+UNFORTUNATELY, AT