WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1985
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STIPEND FOR LEGCO MEMBERS APPROVED
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UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD IN FUTURE BE ABLE TO CLAIM A MONTHLY STIPEND OF UP TO $8 500- AND THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THIS WOULD ENCOURAGE SUITABLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE, WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE BE IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO DO SO, TO SEEK ELECTION.
UMELCO MEMBERS WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO CLAIM IN FUTURE MORE REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES INCURRED. THE MAXIMUM MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $9 500 HAD BEEN INCREASED TO $10 200.
BOTH GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS WERE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), AND WOULD TAKE EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1.
IN AGREEING TO THE INTRODUCTION OF THE STIPEND AND TO THE INCREASED EXPENSES CEILING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED A SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF FUNDS AMOUNTING TO $3 530 000.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCE WAS NOT NEW IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1976.
*THE OBJECT OF THE ALLOWANCE IS TO REIMBURSE MEMBERS FOR EXPENSES INCURRED IN CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES, SAID THE SPOKESMAN. NATURALLY, IT HAS HAD TO BE CHANGED REGULARLY AS COSTS HAVE RISEN, BUT IN NO WAY DOES IT TAKE ACCOUNT OF MEMBERS' LIVING COSTS.+
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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ALSO TOOK NOTE OF THE FACT THAT THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBER BY VIRTUE OF HIS HIGHER POST-INCURRED MORE EXPENSES THAN THE ORDINARY MEMBERS.
+THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER WILL BE ABLE.+ EXPLAINED THE SPOKESMAN, TO CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT TO A CEILING DOUBLE THAT OF AN ORDINARY MEMBER.+
WITH REGARD TO THE STIPEND, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG IT WAS PROPOSED THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR A STANDARD RATE OF REMUNERATION.+
HE STRESSED: THE INTENTION IS THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE DE BARRED FROM SERVING ON THE COUNCIL BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. AT THE SAME TIME THE SUM SHOULD NOT BE SO GENEROUS THAT A PERSON WOULD STAND FOR ELECTION SIMPLY FOR THE MONEY.+
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, THE STIPEND HAD TO BE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE AN ASSURED INCOME TO SUPPORT MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES SO THAT IT WOULD NOT DETER PERSONS OF ABILITY FROM STANDING.
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