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WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990
THIS EXCESS WAS LARGELY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE 1989 PAY ADJUSTMENT AND THE DIRECTORATE SALARY STRUCTURE REVIEW IN RESPECT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ($1,729.4 MILLION) AND GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS ($939.5 MILLION).
OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED THE ADVANCE PAYMENT OF WATER CHARGES ($474.0 MILLION) AND ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ON PENSION AND GRATUITY PAYMENTS ARISING FROM PENSION AND SALARY INCREASES ($324.1 MILLION).
PENSION
SIR PIERS SAID THE COST OF THE 1989 PAY ADJUSTMENT AND INCREASE HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED IN THE 1989-90 ESTIMATES UNDER THE "ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS" SUBHEAD.
"
'SAVINGS WERE ALSO MADE IN OTHER SUBHEADS THROUGH CONTINUED TIGHT CONTROL OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, AND I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS AND OTHERS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO RESTRAINT.
"BECAUSE OF THESE SAVINGS AND THE PROVISION MADE FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS, TOTAL EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR IS WITHIN THE SUM APPROPRIATED IN THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE 1989, HE SAID.
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DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
BILL PROVIDES FOR SETTING UP OF HK SHIPPING REGISTER
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THE ADMINISTRATION HOPES THAT, FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) BILL 1990 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WILL BE ABLE TO COME INTO OPERATION BY THE END OF 1990, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS CHAN SAID THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE HONG KONG'S STATUS AS A LEADING CENTRE OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME COMMERCE.
"IT WILL ALSO MARK AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JOINT DECLARATION," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS UNDER WHICH HONG KONG REGISTERED SHIPS FORMED PART OF THE UNITED KINGDOM REGISTER COULD NOT CONTINUE BEYOND 1997.
STIPULATED
SHE NOTED THAT A PROVISION IN THE JOINT DECLARATION THAT "THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION SHALL BE AUTHORISED BY THE CENTRAL PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A SHIPPING REGISTER AND ISSUE RELATED CERTIFICATES UNDER ITS OWN LEGISLATION IN THE NAME OF HONG KONG, CHINA'"
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/"IN ORDER