¿DNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985

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DUE TO AN INCREASED ANNUAL EXPENDITURE SINCE 1979 CAUSED BY MORE BENEFICIARIES, MR SWAINE SAID THE FUND'S ASSETS HAD NEARED DEPLETION AND THIS YEAR FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN ASKED

TO APPROVE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION TO MEET EXPENDITURE FROM THE FUND.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS GUARANTEED THAT THE FUND WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY BUT I BELIEVE THAT A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL CAN BEST MAKE AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE FUND WHICH WOULD BE FAIR BOTH TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE PRISONERS OF WAR AND OTHER BENEFICIARIES BEFORE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS ASKED TO VOTE FURTHER FUNDS FOR ITS CONTINUANCE, MR SWAINE SUGGESTED.

SUPPORTING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID HE AGREED WITH MR SWAINE THAT IT WAS AN APPROPRIATE TIME FOR AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION TO DETERMINE FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUND WHICH WOULD BE FAIR BOTH TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE BENEFICIARIES.

HE ADDED THAT GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT THE MOST APPROPRIATE WAY OF DOING THIS WAS BY MEANS OF A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HK PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL SEEKS OWN BUILDING

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THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WILL SEEK GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT TO ALLOCATE A SITE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SPECIAL PURPOSE BUILDING TO ACCOMMODATE MOST OF ITS PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND FACILITIES UNDER ONE ROOF.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE HON ALLEN LEE WHEN TABLING THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNG IL ANNUAL REPORT 1984-85 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEE NOTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THE CONTINUED VIGOROUS GROWTH OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTIVITIES AND WORKFORCE HAD POSED A RECURRENT PROBLEM OF ACCOMMODATION.

THE COUNCIL, HE SAID, BELIEVED THAT WITH ITS INCREASING SIZE AND DIVERSITY, ONLY THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH A BUILDING TO MAXIMISE UTILISATION OF ITS RESOURCES, WOULD ENABLE IT TO SERVE MOST EFFECTIVELY, ESPECIALLY IN MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TASKS AND ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS.

+OUR GROSS RENTAL ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN AND ARE GROWING TO THE POINT WHERE WE BELIEVE THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR OWN BUILDING IS VIABLE, HE ADDED.

/FOR THE

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