13
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1992
IN
IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THERE HAD BEEN A SIGNIFICANT 'INCREASE THE JUDICIARY'S BUSINESS, BOTH IN TERMS OF WORKLOAD AND COMPLEXITY, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THIS HAD MADE THE JOB OF ADMINISTERING THE JUDICIARY EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY ALL THE MORE DIFFICULT.
"I KNOW THAT THE LONG WAITING TIMES IN BRINGING CASES TO COURTS ARE OF REAL CONCERN," SIR DAVID SAID.
HIGH
HE POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE CREATION OF THREE ADDITIONAL COURT JUDGE POSTS THE JUDICIARY WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE WAITING TIME COULD BE REDUCED ON AVERAGE BY ABOUT THREE MONTHS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AND THEREAFTER AT AN INCREASED RATE.
"BUT THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM IN THIS AREA WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED. IN THE MEANTIME WE WILL CONTINUE ΤΟ MONITOR THE SITUATION VERY CAREFULLY, SIR DAVID SAID.
THE
HE ASSURED MEMBERS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD TAKE NECESSARY MEASURES TO ENSURE THAT THE JUDICIARY WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY MODERN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT ITS WORK EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
CHIEF SECRETARY ON CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS
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THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT THERE ARE WORRIES IN THE CIVIL SERVICES ABOUT PENSIONS AND IS STILL EXPLORING WAYS TO MEET THE CONCERNS OF THE SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED OF THE BUDGET DEBATE, SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TRIED TO ADDRESS THE WORRIES BUT SOLUTIONS WERE NOT EASY.
"THEY WOULD INEVITABLY INVOLVE EITHER CONSIDERABLE CASH FLOW PROBLEMS IN THE SHORT TERM OR THE SETTING ASIDE OF A LARGE AMOUNTS OF RESERVES IN THE LONGER TERM,' HE SAID.
TT
IN REPLY TO POINTS BY SOME MEMBERS ON THE CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS, SIR DAVID EMPHASISED THAT AS WITH MANY GOVERNMENTS WORLD WIDE, IT WAS THE ESTABLISHED POLICY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT THAT PENSIONS SHOULD BE PAID OUT OF RECURRENT GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.
"THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THIS. GOVERNMENT BEARING ITS OWN INSURANCE AND NOT POLICIES, HE SAID.
RIGHT REVENUE.
IT IS ANALOGOUS TAKING OUT INSURANCE
TO
SIR DAVID POINTED OUT THAT PENSIONS WERE PAID AS A AND THEY WERE A STATUTORY FIRST CHARGE ON RECURRENT
STATUTORY GOVERNMENT
/LEGAL ADVICE