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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988
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MR WONG SAID THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S FINANCE COMMITTEE, OBVIOUSLY HE WAS TO BLAME.
"WILL THE GOVERNMENT SHARE MY BLAME? PLEASE DON'T TELL ME THAT EVERY REQUEST FOR EVERY ADDITIONAL POST RECEIVES THE UTMOST CAREFUL SCRUTINY AND VETTING.
"JUST REMEMBER ONE OF C. NORTHCOTE PARKINSON'S FAMOUS LAWS THAT 'CIVIL SERVANTS CREATE WORK FOR EACH OTHER' HE SAID.
曾
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MR WONG SAID IN THE DEBATE ON THE WASTE DISPOSAL { AMENDMENT) BILL ON OCTOBER 14, 1987, HE SPOKE OF THE 125 ADDITIONAL POSTS REQUIRED FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ANIMAL WASTE CONTROL POLICY.
"AND I SAID TO THE EFFECT THAT HAD AN ALTERNATIVE POLICY BEEN ADOPTED, POLLUTION PROBLEMS COULD BE TACKLED WITH A VERY SMALL ESTABLISHMENT.
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MR WONG SAID VERY OFTEN, MISGUIDED, MUDDLED OR CONVOLUTED POLICIES WERE AT THE ROOT OF UNBRIDLED GROWTH IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
"THE ANIMAL WASTE CONTROL POLICY IS A VERY GOOD CASE IN POINT.
"AT THE SAME DEBATE, I ESTIMATED THAT HAD THE POLICY BEEN A TOTAL BAN ON LIVESTOCK KEEPING, WITH THE EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION BOOSTED BY 100 PER CENT, THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE WOULD BE IN THE REGION OF $573 MILLION INSTEAD OF AN ESTIMATED TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $609 MILLION UNDER THE POLICY ADOPTED.
"THE $573 MILLION COULD BE LOWERED IF WE DECIDE FOR A LESS THAN 100 PER CENT BOOSTER, AND TO THE $609 MILLION UNDER THE PRESENT POLICY, WE SHOULD ADD A PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS BILL OF $180 MILLION FOR THE 125 POSTS MENTIONED EARLIER.
MR WONG SAID HE WONDERED WHAT HAD GONE WRONG DURING THE POLICY-MAKING PROCESS AS NEGOTIATIONS WERE STILL CONTINUING BETWEEN THE FARMERS AND THE ADMINISTRATION.
"SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE AMENDMENT BILL, GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY COMMITTED A FURTHER SUM OF $8 MILLION то CARRY OUT DEMONSTRATIONS IN PRIVATE FARMS IN ORDER TO CONVINCE OR APPEASE THE FARMERS, AND I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THE FINAL BILL LOOKS LIKE."
ANOTHER CASE OF CONVOLUTED POLICY, HE SAID, WAS THE STUDENT TRAVEL SUBSIDY SCHEME.
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*IF MY UNDERSTANDING IS CORRECT, THE EVOLUTION OR CONVOLUTION STARTED IN 1971 WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO REIMBURSE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS FOR LOSS IN REVENUE ARISING FROM CONCESSIONARY FARES GIVEN TO STUDENTS ABOVE THE AGE OF 12.
/"THE SCHEME