WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986
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MR WONG IS THE CONVENER OF BOTH THE UMELCO SECURITY PANEL AND THE LEGCO INTERNAL WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE THE ESTIMATES FOR SECURITY SERVICES.
TURNING TO IMPROVEMENTS IN IMMIGRATION FACILITIES AT BORDER CROSSING POINTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA, MR WONG SAID A NEW PERMANENT TERMINAL WOULD OPEN AT LO WU IN JANUARY 1987, 207 NEW POSTS IN IMMIGRATION CONTROL WERE PROPOSED FOR 1986-87, AND A NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD BE INTRODUCED LATER IN 1987.
MR WONG NOTED THAT EXPENDITURE ON IMMIGRATION CONTROL FOR 1986-87 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $73 MILLION OR 42 PER CENT MORE THAN THE APPROVED EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 1985-86.
+THE PRINCIPLE OF RECOVERING ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS IS
WELL ESTABLISHED IN THE CHARGING OF FEES FOR LICENCES, PASSPORTS, EXAMINATIONS, AND OTHER SERVICES.
+ IT IS NOT REVENUE-RAISING FOR ITS OWN SAKE, BUT A MEANS OF ENSURING THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING SERVICES ARE MET BY THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO USE THEM, AND NOT BY THE GENERAL TAXPAYER.
+THERE IS, I BELIEVE, EVERY JUSTIFICATION FOR EXTENDING THIS PRINCIPLE TO OUR IMMIGRATION FACILITIES, AND RECOMMEND THAT THE GOVERNMENT GIVE THE PROPOSAL SERIOUS CONSIDERATION,+ MR WONG SAID,
ON THE SUBJECT OF LEGAL AID, MR WONG SAID HE AGREED WITH THE HON MARTIN LEE THAT THE TIME HAD COME FOR IT TO BE INDEPENDENTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE LEGAL PROFESSION.
MR WONG NOTED THAT THE DRAFT ESTIMATES SHOWED ENORMOUS INCREASES IN EXPENDITURE ON LEGAL AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, AND SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN EXPENDITURE ON ALMOST ALL OTHER SÉCURITY SERVICES.
+THEIR AIM IS TO FOSTER A SAFE AND PEACEFUL SOCIETY, PROTECT THE INNOCENT AND BRING THE GUILTY TO JUSTICE.
TO
+STABILITY IS ONE OF THE TWIN PILLARS SUPPORTING HONG KONG NOW AND IN THE YEARS TO COME, AND WITHOUT IT PROSPERITY CANNOT EXIST, HE SAID.
+ THE NEED FOR SPENDING MORE ON SECURITY SERVICES IS WELL RECOGNISED, BUT, AS WITH EVERY OTHER SERVICE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO KEEP THE EXPENDITURE WITHIN REASONABLE LIMITS, HE CAUTIONED.
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR WONG PRAISED THE RETIRING FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR HIS +TOUGH CONTROL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES PROVIDED+.
+ IT IS TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S CREDIT THAT HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO ENFORCE THE ZERO GROWTH POLICY DURING HIS TERM OF OFFICE AND IT IS MAINLY DUE TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS POLICY THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTAIN THE RAPID EXPANSION OF OUR PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, THEREBY OBVIATING THE NEED TO RESORT TO SIZEABLE INCREASES IN TAXATION, + HE ADDED.
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