WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1985
+HE RESOLUTELY REFUSED TO MAKE A LONG TERM BUDGETARY FORECAST, BUT I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO.
+1 COMPLAINED THAT HE GAVE US NO PROJECTIONS AT ALL, NOT EVEN FOR NEXT YEAR,+ SHE SAID.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ASKED US TO ACCEPT THAT HIS PROPOSALS WERE CORRECT, BUT LIGHTLY DISMISSED THE NEED TO SUPPLY US SUCH FACTS AS WE THOUGHT WERE NECESSARY TO ENABLE US TO COME TO AN INFORMED VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETARY STRATEGY.
+THIS ATTITUDE IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE WAY IN WHICH BUSINESS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THIS COUNCIL AND IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OBJECTIVE STATED IN THE RECENT WHITE PAPER OF MAKING GOVERNMENT 'MORE DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, MISS DUNN SAID.
J
LOCAL PARTICIPATION ON JLG CALLED FOR *****
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE HOPED PRESS REPORTS THAT BRITAIN WISHED TO APPOINT A LOCAL HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICER AS A MEMBER OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP, BUT COULD NOT DO SO BECAUSE OF OBJECTIONS FROM CHINA, WERE UNTRUE.
MR CHEUNG WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES (JOINT LIAISON GROUP) BILL 1985 AT TODAY'S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.
HE SAID HE HOPED THE REPORTS WERE UNTRUE BECAUSE HE ENVISAGED THAT CHINA WOULD UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND IN THE INTEREST OF IMPLEMENTING THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT LOCAL PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE PART IN THE CONSULTATIONS WITHIN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP.
+WE HAVE LONG PASSED THE STAGE OF THE DEBATE ON THE THREE- LEGGED STOOL',+ HE SAID.
THE AGREEMENT HAD BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A GOOD ONE.
CHINA KNEW VERY WELL THAT SHE COULD COUNT ON THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO MAKE THE AGREEMENT WORK.
/+I AM