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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986
36
BUDGET REASSURES PUBLIC CONFIDENCE-
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THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) HE HOPED THAT IN YEARS TO COME HONG KONG'S BASIC FINANCIAL POLICY, WHICH WAS CURRENTLY TAKING THE RIGHT PATH, MIGHT BE MODIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOCIAL CHANGES AND NEEDS OF THE TIMES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN
ITS FINANCE.
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE_COUNCIL, MR YEUNG DESCRIBED THE BUDGET AS BALANCED AND CONSERVATIVE. +NONETHELESS, IT HAS ACHIEVED THE EFFECT OF REASING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE, HE SAID."
+ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET APPEARS TO BE LACKING IN PROGRESSIVENESS AND ORIGINALITY, IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT GROWTH IN GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY REPT UNDER CONTROL
← . AND THAT THE DEFICIT HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A SURPLUS, HE ADDED.
MR YEUNG SAID IT TOOK STAMINA, CONFIDENCE, COURAGE, WILLPOWER AND A SPIRIT OF PRAGMATISM TO OVERCOME FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
HE OBSERVED THAT A STRONG AND WEALTHY GOVERNMENT REFLECTED SOCIAL PROSPERITY WHILE STABILITY DEPENDED ON GOOD LAW AND ORDER.
NOTING THAT A MAJOR TASK WAS TO COMBAT CRIME AND MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER, HE SAID THE INCREASE OF 1.7 PER CENT IN * EXPENDITURE ON SECURITY SERVICES INDICATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT
HAD ATTACHED IMPORTANCE TO IT.
CONCERNING THE INCREASING NUMBER OF TRAVELLERS PASSING THROUGH THE VARIOUS CHECKPOINTS OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, MR YEUNG SAID ADEQUATE MANPOWER SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN ORDER TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES AND ALSO TO FACILITATE THE MOVEMENT OF TRAVELLERS.
+FURTHERMORE, GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER COLLECTING FEES FROM ALL, TRAVELLERS TO RECOVER ALL OR PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION COSTS IN PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES, HE SUGGESTED,→
MR YEUNG ALSO COMMENTED ON THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY THE AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE AND SAID HE WAS GLAD TO LEARN THAT THE
* GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED THAT THE FORCE'S TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS AND *TRAINING CENTRE, AT PRESENT SITUATED AT KOWLOON BAY, SHOULD BE
MADE PERMANENT PREMISES.
ON THE QUESTION OF LOCALISING THE JUDICIARY, MR YEUNG SAID THE JUDICIARY, LEGAL DEPARTMENT, LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT AND REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT ALL REQUIRED ADDITIONAL STAFF. +DUE TO THE RELATIVELY HIGH INCOME IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CHINESE LAWYERS ARE RELUCTANT TO JOIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, THUS LOCALISATION OF THE
特 JUDICIARY IS HINDERED SERIOUSLY, ME SAID.
/+BESIDES,