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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1988
INCREASING CONTRIBUTION BY LOTTERIES FUND TO SOCIAL WELFARE
THERE IS AN IMPRESSIVELY INCREASING CONTRIBUTION BY THE LOTTERIES FUND TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE SECTOR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE BETTING DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1987, SIR DAVID SAID NO SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS HAD BEEN DELAYED THROUGH THE LACK OF CAPITAL FUNDING.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON HUI YIN-FAT'S CLAIM THAT THE FUND WAS NOT CONTRIBUTING ENOUGH TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE SECTOR.
SIR DAVID SAID THAT IN THE FISCAL YEAR 1986/87 THE LOTTERIES FUND HAD SPENT SOME $69 MILLION AND COMMITTED ΤΟ EXPENDITURE $123 MILLION FOR LARGELY CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE SECTOR.
HE SAID THE CORRESPONDING ESTIMATES FOR 1987/88 WERE $90 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE AND $142 MILLION ON COMMITMENTS, AND FOR 1988/89 $105 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE AND $170 MILLION ON COMMITMENTS.
ON MR HUI'S SUGGESTION THAT THE FUND SHOULD FINANCE MORE RECURRENT COSTS, SIR DAVID SAID THE ISSUE HAD BEEN DEALT WITH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE IN THE 1987 BUDGET DEBATE.
SIR DAVID QUOTED THE SECRETARY AS SAYING AT THAT TIME THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS, WHEREBY GRANTS WERE MAINLY RESTRICTED ΤΟ CAPITAL PROJECTS, HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THAT
THE SECREATARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE HAD ALSO CONFIRMED CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO FINANCING FROM THE FUND MORE RECURRENT COSTS BUT THIS WAS FELT TO RE INAPPROPRIATE SINCE ADDITIONAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ALMOST INVARIABLY PERMANENT COMMITMENT, SIR DAVID SAID.
INVOLVED A
"BUT THE SECRETARY HAS UNDERTAKEN ΤΟ MONITOR FINANCES OF THE LOTTERIES FUND TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE A LEVEL ADEQUATE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF CAPITAL THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD."
THE
CAREFULLY MAINTAINED AT EXPENDITURE IN
AS TO THE SUGGESTION THAT THE JOCKEY CLUB ABSORB THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE LOTTERIES, SIR DAVID SAID THIS WOULD NOT BE FAIR ΤΟ THE CLUB.
"THE LOTTERIES BOARD WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE THE CLUB TO ENSURE THAT THE COSTS INCURRED ARE REASONABLE,
IN CONCLUDING, SIR DAVID SAID THE BILL WOULD WELCOME DEGREE OF STABILITY INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND PROVIDE THE LATTER WITH A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL OF INCOME.
ACCOUNTS OF HE SAID.
INTRODUCE A AND SHOULD
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