14
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1992
LEGAL ADVICE WAS THAT THIS PROVIDED THE NECESSARY SECURITY. IN ADDITION CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS WERE GUARANTEED IN THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW, HE SAID.
SIR DAVID ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, OR THE HONG KONG SARG IN THE FUTURE, WOULD BE UNABLE TO MEET THE ANNUAL COSTS OF PENSIONS.
"THE ANNUAL COSTS OF PENSIONS RANGE BETWEEN THREE PER CENT AND FIVE PER CENT OF RECURRENT ANNUAL EXPENDITURE AND ARE PROJECTED TO REACH A MAXIMUM FIGURE OF 5.2 PER CENT IN 2005."
HE
POINTED THAT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED PENSION BILL, IF THERE WAS AN EXODUS OF LARGE NUMBERS OF PENSIONABLE OFFICERS.
"
"THERE CANNOT BE AN UNEXPECTED PENSION BILL, HE SAID.
UNDER THE OLD PENSION SCHEME THE UPFRONT EXPENDITURE ON LUMP SUM PAYMENTS WOULD BE LIMITED TO 25 PER CENT; UNDER THE NEW PENSION SCHEME, NO MATTER WHEN AN OFFICER RESIGNED OR RETIRED AS LONG AS HE HAD THE REQUISITE 10 YEARS' SERVICE HE WOULD NOT RECEIVE HIS PENSION UNTIL HE REACHED PENSIONABLE AGE.
-
THE GOVERNMENT'S CALCULATION OF THREE TO FIVE PER CENT OF ITS EXPENDITURE THEREFORE REMAINED THE SAME, SIR DAVID SAID.
"INDEED IN THE LONG RUN, BEYOND 2012, IT IS LIKELY THAT PENSIONS EXPENDITURE WILL ACTUALLY, REDUCE SLIGHTLY, DUE TO THE LONG TERM EFFECT OF THE NEW PENSION SCHEME WITH ITS GREATER LUMP SUM COMMUTATION BUT REDUCED PENSION PAYMENTS AND PENSIONABLE RETIREMENT AGE OF 60, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.
**
REFERRING ΤΟ MEMBERS' COMMENTS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EFFICIENT AND FORWARD-LOOKING CIVIL SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THERE WERE ON-GOING EFFORTS TO MODERNISE THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY AND TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, SUCH AS THE PUBLIC SECTOR REFORM PROGRAMME AND THE DEVOLUTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES.
**WE
SHALL CONTINUE TO PURSUE SUCH OBJECTIVIES THROUGH THE EFFICIENCY UNIT THAT WILL BE ESTABLISHED NEXT MONTH, HE ADDED.
וי
NEW
GOVT TO REVIEW POLICE SETUP
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES ΤΟ REVIEW THE ENTIRE POLICE ESTABLISHMENT AND STRUCTURE DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY
(WEDNESDAY).
/MR ASPREY
+