WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1991
HE POINTED OUT THAT PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME WHICH MONEY HAD BEEN COMMITTED AMOUNT TO A MASSIVE $65 BILLION AND THIS AMOUNT NO LESS THAN $31 BILLION OR ABOUT 50 PER CENT WOULD SPENT ON CAPITAL PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMMES,
FOR
OF
BE
OF COURSE ASPIRATIONS WOULD ALWAYS RUN AHEAD OF RESOURCES, SIR DAVID SAID, ADDING THAT THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A DEMAND TO SPEND MORE, PARTICULARLY ON SOCIAL SERVICES.
"BUT THAT DESIRE ΤΟ SPEND MORE MUST BE TEMPERED BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MORE CAN ONLY BE SPENT EITHER BY A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO RAISE NEW REVENUE OR TO TRIM OR REDIRECT PRIORITIES ALREADY AGREED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.
RESOLUTION
THIS
TURNING TO THE WAY THE ADMINISTRATION TACKLED THE OF CONFLICTING DEMANDS FOR EXPENDITURE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID WAS DONE IN WHAT HAD COME TO BE KNOWN AS "THE STAR CHAMBER".
THE
HE STRESSED THAT CONTRARY TO ONE MEMBER'S UNDERSTANDING, CHAMBER HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH REVENUE PROPOSALS WHICH WERE THE EXCLUSIVE PRESERVE OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY,
STAR
"THE STAR CHAMBER IS SOLELY CONCERNED WITH EXPENDITURE.
"AS PART OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGETARY EXERCISE ALL POLICY SECRETARIES ARE REQUIRED, WITH THE HELP OF FINANCE BRANCH, TO ASSESS THE COST OF CONTINUING CURRENT PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS THE COST OF PROJECTS, WHICH THEY WOULD LIKE TO OR ARE BEING URGED TO UNDERTAKE.
"THE
NEW
AGGREGATE SUMS PRODUCE A SIMPLE EQUATION WHICH TELLS US HOW MUCH IS NEEDED TO PURSUE PROGRAMMES AND PROJECTS ALREADY IN HAND AND HOW MUCH CAN BE ALLOCATED IN THE COMING YEAR TO FUND NEW IDEAS.
"BACH SECRETARY'S "WISH LIST" OF NEW PROJECTS MUST COMPETE WITH HIS PEERS' FOR PRIORITY IN THE ALLOCATION OF NEW MONEY, SIR DAVID SAID.
AS PART OF THIS EXERCISE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE BRANCH SECRETARIES WERE ALSO REQUIRED ΤΟ EXAMINE EXISTING PROGRAMMES ΤΟ SEE WHETHER THEY WERE STILL JUSTIFIED AND TO SEEK SAVINGS WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENTS UNDER THEIR CONTROL.
"THIS IS A USEFUL DISCIPLINE. IN EFFECT IT FORCES SECRETARIES RE-EXAMINE ALL THEIR PRIORITIES AND TO LOOK FOR WAYS ΤΟ RE-FOCUS EXPENDITURE TO MEET NEW DEMAND.
ΤΟ
"ONE OF THE BEST CURRENT EXAMPLES IS THE WAY SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER IS WORKING TO FUND NEW SERVICES FROM SAVINGS ON OLD.
"INDEED HE HAS BEEN SO GOOD AT IT THAT SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY," SIR DAVID SAID.
WE ARE MAKING HIM
THE
THE
PICK
ON A POINT MADE BY THE HON ALLEN LEE CONCERNING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CIVIL SERVANTS AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, CHIEF SECRETARY SAID IT WAS A PARTICULARLY APPROPRIATE MOMENT TO UP THIS POINT SINCE THIS WAS THE LAST OCCASION IN A BUDGET DEBATE WHEN HE WOULD HAVE THE COMFORT AND COMPANIONSHIP OF NINE OTHER OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
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