7
Question: Is there any view about which part of the expenditure items will get the higher percentage of the resource allocation?
FS: Well, I say the only, I mean the broad priority would still be, if you like to call them the livelihood issues or you likely call them social services, that would probably still be the predominant theme with also a strong number of points on labour. The whole question of labour importation, unemployment, retraining, how best to address the issue. Any other?
Question: On CSSA, do you think there is no way for you or the Government to increase CSSA?
FS: No, no. I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying that we are quite prepared, if the general view, if we can confirm the general view is that we should give priority to CSSA improvements, then I think we've already said that we would set aside a sum of money when we go through the resource allocation for that purpose. But what I'm trying to get over is, there is no easy option when you can have big increases in CSSA and lots of other new things too. I mean it is a choice. I mean, for example, you can remember that in some of the debates we had, some have called for big increases in CSSA and big increases in Old Age Pensions, Old Age Allowances I should say, Old Age Allowances and a stream of other things. Even Hong Kong, even spending 5% more in real terms a year, you can't do that. CSSA is a very big item.
Question: How is the Government going to make a balance among CSSA and the other allowances?
FS: It's not easy, but I think given the size and I'm not prejudging what the increase will be, but given that it's bound to be quite significant in terms of current expenditure, I think it will mean that probably the rest of the new money will be basically spent on inescapable items, absolutely essential items. There won't be a lot of scope for desirable, but not essential items.
Thank you very much.
End/Wednesday, May 10, 1995