WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1989
7
"THE CHEK LAP KOK REPLACEMENT AIRPORT MASTER PLAN HAS BEEN UPDATED, AND THE VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR SITING A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT IN THE WESTERN HARBOUR ARE BEING EXAMINED. THOSE INVOLVED ARE UNDER GREAT PRESSURE TO COME UP WITH RESULTS." HE ADDED.
MR JACOBS SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT GIVEN TO HIM IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOVE TO SET ASIDE FUNDS FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS.
TO SET UP THE PROPOSED
"IN DUE COURSE. THE RESOLUTION INVESTMENT FUND WILL REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THIS COUNCIL.
"I REGARD THIS SETTING ASIDE OF FUNDS NOT ONLY AS A PRUDENT BUDGETARY MEASURE BUT AS A CLEAR STATEMENT OF INTENT," HE SAID.
IN RESPONSE TO MEMBERS' COMMENTS ON STRATEGY FOR EXPENDITURE, MR JACOBS SAID WHILE IT WAS WORTH STRESSING THAT RESOURCES WERE ALWAYS LIMITED, IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE SHARE OF THE CAKE CONSUMED BY EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL SERVICES WAS EXPECTED TO GROW FROM 32 PER CENT IN 1988-89 TO ALMOST 35.5 PER CENT BY 1992-93.
"IN CASH TERMS, THIS INCREASE WOULD, ON PRESENT PROJECTIONS, AMOUNT TO A SIZEABLE SUM," HE SAID.
ON HOSPITAL SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING TO THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY TO PRODUCE IMPROVED AND MORE COST-EFECTIVE METHODS OF DELIVERING THOSE SERVICES.
"IN THIS REGARD, I AGREE THAT IF THIS OBJECTIVE IS TO BE ACHIEVED, WE MUST ADOPT A FLEXIBLE APPROACH IN DRAWING UP ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNDING OF THE AUTHORITY. THIS INDEED 13 OUR INTENTION," HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE WRONG то EXEMPT THE HIOSPITAL AUTHORITY FROM COMPETING FOR FUNDS IN THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION SYSTEM.
"ANY MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION WOULD INEVITABLY LEAD TO CALLS FOR PARITY OF TREATMENT FOR OTHER PROGRAMME AREAS AND WOULD UNDERMINE THE SYSTEM WHICH IS A KEY FEATURE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT," HE SAID.
ON CRITICISM BY MEMBERS OF THE FACT THAT THE MEDICAL EXPENSES OF CIVIL SERVANTS WERE SUBSUMED IN THE OVERALL MEDICAL BUDGET AND COULD NOT THEREFORE BE SEPARATELY IDENTIFIED, MR JACOBS SAID HE ANTICIPATED THAT THIS SITUATION WOULD CEASE AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, SINCE IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE CHARGING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE GOVERNMENT BY THE AUTHORITY.
+ ON MEMBERS COMMENTS REGARDING THE GROWTH PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, PARTICULARLY IN THE EARLY YEARS PERIOD, MR JACOBS SAID
HAD REPEATED THE
MEMBERS
HIMSELF GAVE IN THE BUDGET SPEECH.
RATE OVERALL OF OF THE FORECAST WARNING THAT HE
/"THE GROWTH