XN000022-1973-03-14 — Page 7

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Wednesday, March 14, 1973

On the other hand, he said the Financial Secretary had shown an

"unexpected optimism" in taxi concession as it was doubtful that 1,000 new

licences would bring in $85 million premia in the present climate of the trade,

In Mr. Szeto's view, unless there was a considerable climb down in

the stock market or some urgent measures to arrest or even repress the soaring

land prices, the growth of revenue in 1973-74 should attain a higher rate

than three per cent over the revised estimate for 1972-73.

He went on to say that there was pressing need for residential land

and this need had directed developers to search in the rural areas near the

new towns, and Sha Tin had become a focus with its prospect of improved

transportation in the very near future.

Civil Service

He proposed that perhaps present circumstances would warrant a re-

examination of the approved Sha Tin town plan with a view to expanding its

capacity as a dormitory town by pushing back the green belt.

Referring to the rising cost of the civil service, Mr. Szeto was

of the opinion that recent years' accelerated tempo of development justified a

reasonable expansion, but unreasonable increase must be rejected.

The proposed 109,495-strong public service establishment for 1973-74,

consisting 97,042 permanent posts and 12,453 supernumerary, exceeds the 1972-73

total 98,459 by 6.7 per cent.

He hoped that the Establishment Sub-Committee of the Legislative

Council would keep a vigilant watch on "any symptoms of Parkinson Disease and

nip the ambition of any Government department aspiring the role of an octopus",

An all