16
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1990
"SECONDLY, EASILY
WE HAVE COMMITMENTS AND ITEMS OF OR READILY BE AVOIDED OR DEFERRED.
EXPENDITURE
THE
PURCHASE
WHICH OF
CANNOT ADDITIONAL WATER SUPPLIES IS PERHAPS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
"THIRDLY, PACE
NOT
PEOPLE
MEET THOSE PROVIDE FOR
IN SOME AREAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR SERVICES HAS
KEPT
WITH
COMMUNITY. THE GROWING ASPIRATIONS OF THE RIGHTLY EXPECT BETTER QUALITY SERVICES AND, IF WE ARE TO EXPECTATIONS, WE HAVE TO SPEND MORE. THUS THE ESTIMATES THE INTRODUCTION IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR OF SOME NEW SERVICES, IMPROVEMENTS TO EXISTING SERVICES," SIR PIERS SAID.
FOR
AND
THE
HE POINTED OUT THAT THESE INCLUDED ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPEN LEARNING INSTITUTE, THE NEW UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, THE SETTING UP
AND OF A HONG KONG SPORTS DEVELOPMENT BOARD. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH FIELDS. SUCH AS THE SHA TIN INFIRMARY AND THE TUEN MUN HOSPITAL.
"LASTLY, TO MAINTAIN GOOD AND EFFICIENT PUBLIC SERVICES, WE HAVE TO ENSURE
NECESSARY THAT WE CAN RECRUIT AND RETAIN STAFF OF THE
SERVICE CALIBRE. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PAY AND CONDITIONS OF OUR CIVIL
TI THE FINANCIAL ARE A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE GROWTH IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, SECRETARY SAID.
"BUT WE WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE PRESSURE TO ENSURE QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE AND IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY.
A
MATCHING
REAL "WE CANNOT AFFORD OVER ANY SIGNIFICANT LENGTH OF TIME BOTH
IN CIVIL SERVICE PAY AND SIGNIFICANT INCREASES
GROWTH IN NUMBERS. DESPITE SOME SUCCESS FROM OUR RECENT EFFORTS, THE GROWTH RATE IS STILL
11 HE ADDED. TOO HIGH AND WILL HAVE TO COME DOWN IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS,
SIR PIERS SAID IT MUST BE RECOGNISED THAT IN HONG KONG TODAY THE COST OF AN EMPLOYEE WAS HIGH AND WAS LIKELY TO INCREASE OVER THE SHORT
THE APPLIED AS MUCH TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS TO TERM,
PRIVATE WHICH SECTOR.
"IN
TO CONTROL ENDEAVOURING
THE OVERALL GROWTH IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, WE CANNOT IGNORE THIS FACT. WE MUST RECOGNISE THAT IF WE ARE TO CONTROL THE OVERALL GROWTH IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, TARGET MUST BE GROWTH IN NUMBERS," HE SAID.
OUR PRIME
HAVING MENTIONED THE SPECIAL EXERCISE TO REDUCE STAFF ESTABLISHMENTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE IN
BECAUSE THIS
COSTS REPRESENTED AREA RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
"THUS, EFFICIENCY
STAFF
SOME
60
PER
CENT
OF
WE MUST ENSURE MAXIMUM VALUE FOR MONEY. THIS REQUIRES MORE
GOVERNMENT. AND PRODUCTIVITY AT EVERY LEVEL OF MUST LOOK FIRST TO THE BASELINE EXPENDITURE
AND NEW
IMPROVEMENTS
LEVELS.
FINANCIAL
SAID.
WE
SERVICES AND NOT SIMPLY ADD
CRITICAL MANAGEMENT REMAINS OF
TO ACCOMMODATE TO EXPENDITURE
IMPORTANCE,"
HE
/TURNING TO