17
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989
ARE
$1.7
"SOME 9.000 VACANT POSTS
BEING DELETED FOR 1989-90 REPRESENTING POTENTIAL EXPENDITURE, INCLUDING ON COSTS, OF SOME BILLION PER YEAR.
"FURTHERMORE, REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR 1990-91 ARE BEING CUT FAR MORE RADICALLY THAN IN RECENT YEARS IN ORDER TO KEEP THE GROWTH IN STRENGTH DOWN TO ABOUT TWO PER CENT NEXT YEAR,' HE SAID.
"WHILST WE ARE TRYING TO DO THIS SELECTIVELY, BEING LESS STRICT IN AREAS OF HIGH PRIORITY OR WHERE NEW PROJECTS ARE BEING COMPLETED AND NEED TO BE STAFFED, I MUST WARN THAT ALL AREAS WILL BE AFFECTED TO VARYING DEGREES," HE ADDED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE HOPED THAT IN THE LONGER TERM THIS ENFORCED RESTRAINT WOULD PROVIDE A USEFUL STIMULUS, ENCOURAGING REASSESSMENT OF PRIORITIES. REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY: AND ABOVE ALL, IT WOULD RELEASE RESOURCES FOR THE NEW INITIATIVES.
TURNING TO REFERENCES MADE TO TAXATION AND TO HIS SUGGESTION REGARDING THE INTRODUCTION OF A WHOLESALE TAX. SIR PIERS SAID THIS WAS MORE FOR THE BUDGET DEBATE NEXT YEAR.
"NEVERTHELESS. LET ME ASSURE MEMBERS THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF A WHOLESALE TAX IS NOT IMMINENT SO THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR UNDUE CONCERN AT THIS STAGE. HE SAID.
"
"I KNOW THAT I CAN RELY ON
MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND COLLEAGUES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE TO ACCEPT AND UPHOLD THE CONSTRAINTS TO WHICH I HAVE REFERRED.
'I BELIEVE IT IS WELL UNDERSTOOD AND ACCEPTED THAT IT IS NOW MORE NECESSARY THAN EVER TO ENSURE THAT ALL OUR RESOURCES ARE PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY DEPLOYED," SIR PIERS SAID.
CONTINUED EFFICIENCY OF PORT IS VITAL
* *
LIFE
NOTHING
THE CONTINUED EFFICIENCY OF HONG KONG'S PORT IS THE VERY BLOOD OF THE TERRITORY AND STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT IS DONE TO IMPAIR ITS EFFICENCY AND GOOD ORDER, THE SECRETARY ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, TOLD THE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
GOVERNOR'S POLICY BOARD WOULD GO AND
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE ADDRESS, MRS CHAN SAID THE PROPOSED PORT DEVELOPMENT SOME WAY TO ENSURING THIS, BUT THAT WE MUST REMAIN BOTH VIGILANT FLEXIBLE.
/"GIVEN THE