17
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1993
*
*
FOR THE SICK, 950 EXTRA HOSPITAL BEDS WILL BE TOGETHER WITH NINE NEW CLINICS OR SERVICE UNITS.
PROVIDED,
FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS, 785 EXTRA TEACHERS WILL BE PROVIDED, REDUCING CLASS SIZES AND IMPROVING PUPIL-TEACHER RATIOS.
* FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME, AN EXTRA 800 POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE DEPLOYED ON THE STREETS, AND BACKING THEM UP, THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE PROVIDED.
NEW EXPENDITURE INITIATIVES FOR 1993
* * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED A SERIES OF NEW EXPENDITURE INITIATIVES FOR 1993 TACKLE LONGSTANDING PROBLEMS IN 10 AREAS OF MAJOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.
ΤΟ
THESE WERE IN ADDITION TO THE TARGETS SET BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS POLICY ADDRESS LAST OCTOBER.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR MACLEOD SAID HONG KONG'S CURRENT FINANCIAL STRENGTH ALLOWED THE GOVERNMENT BE MORE AMBITIOUS ON NON-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
то
APART FROM THE PACKAGE OF NEW INITIATIVES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO ANNOUNCED AN EXPANSION TO THE KINDERGARTEN FEE REMISSION SCHEME WHICH WILL RESULT IN AN EXTRA 32,000 FAMILIES QUALIFYING FOR FEE REMISSION. THIS WILL COST $13 MILLION A YEAR.
HE ALSO AGREED TO MEMBERS' SUGGESTIONS FOR INTRODUCING A MORTGAGE
INTEREST SUBSIDY SCHEME TO PROVIDE HOUSING BENEFITS TO STAFF IN AIDED SCHOOLS AND IN SUBVENTED SOCIAL WELFARE AND HEALTH ORGANISATIONS. THIS SCHEME WILL COST $48 MILLION IN THE
FIRST FULL
YEAR,
RISING TO $94 MILLION IN THE FIFTH YEAR.
MADE
OUTLINING HIS PACKAGE OF INITIATIVES, MR MACLEOD SAID HE HAD A PARTICULAR EFFORT то TAKE INTO ACCOUNT MEMBERS' USEFUL SUGGESTIONS DURING THE BUDGET CONSULTATION EXERCISE.
SPECIAL FUND ON AIDS AND RELIEF FOR WORK-RELATED VICTIMS
TO HELP HIV-INFECTED HAEMOPHILIACS CAUSED BY BLOOD TRANSFUSION, MR MACLEOD PROPOSED TO SET UP A SPECIAL FUND OF $350 MILLION TO COVER BOTH THE COSTS OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AND THE MEDICAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES THEY REQUIRE, AND HELP FINANCE A PROGRAMME OF AIDS-RELATED EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY TO HELP PREVENT THE SPREAD OF THIS TERRIBLE DISEASE.
/FOR WORKERS