25
1992
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
STATUTE
NO
"I THINK IT WRONG IN PRINCIPLE TO LEAVE LAWS ON THE BOOK WHICH ARE OUT OF DATE, WHICH WE DO NOT USE AND WHICH WE HAVE INTENTION OF USING. I AM REFERRING HERE TO THE LAW ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
"ON 26 JUNE LAST YEAR, THIS COUNCIL VOTED FOR A MOTION IN FAVOUR OF THE REPEAL OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
"IN THE DEBATE, MANY MEMBERS RECOGNISED THAT LAWS WHICH ARE NOT USED OR ARE OUT OF DATE SHOULD BE REPEALED.
"WE HAVE THEREFORE PREPARED DRAFT LEGISLATION TO REPLACE THE PENALTY OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT WITH LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
"THIS AMENDING LEGISLATION WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL DURING THIS NEW SESSION,
"I HE SAID.
AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES THE SOCIAL DIVIDEND OF SUCCESS
THE
THE GOVERNOR, THE ᎡᎢ HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE AMBITIOUS IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES HE HAD PROPOSED FOR WELFARE SERVICES WERE THE SOCIAL DIVIDEND OF A HARD-WORKING, SUCCESSFUL AND ENTERPRISING COMMUNITY.
DELIVERING HIS POLICY ADDRESS, HE SAID THESE PROPOSALS WOULD INCREASE THE GOVERNMENT'S ANNUAL SPENDING ON THESE KEY AREAS BY OVER $8 BILLION BY 1997.
THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE IN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF 21% IN REAL TERMS OVER THIS PERIOD.
CAN
"WE WILL STILL BE HOLDING SPENDING GROWTH TO FIGURES THAT BE SUSTAINED BY OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND WHICH WILL ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR TRADITIONALLY PRUDENT LEVEL OF RESERVES.
"I
HE SAID HE WAS DETERMINED NOT TO ALLOW HONG KONG TO MAKE THE MISTAKE MADE IN SOME OTHER SOCIETIES AND START SPENDING MONEY THAT WE HAD NOT EARNED.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE MAIN AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE VARIOUS KEY PROGRAMMES WOULD BE PRESENTED TO LEGCO MEMBERS LATER THIS WEEK BY THE RESPECTIVE POLICY SECRETARIES.
IN
ADDITION, FURTHER WORK WOULD NEED TO BE DONE TO FLESH OUT THE DETAILS IN PREPARATION FOR THE 1993/94 BUDGET, OR IN SOME CASES FOR EARLY SUBMISSION TO LEGCO'S FINANCE COMMITTEE.
ON WAYS TO MEET THE BILL, MR PATTEN SAID: "WE HAVE ENJOYED AN UNEXPECTEDLY GOOD REVENUE SITUATION IN THE RECENT PAST AND WE EXPECT THIS TO CONTINUE FOR THE REST OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR
HENCE MY PROPOSAL ΤΟ MAKE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL INJECTION INTO THE LOTTERIES FUND.
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/"THIS WILL