XN000022-1974-01-26 — Page 5

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Saturday, January 26, 1974

"Perhaps the only exception where a gap might exist is between

the government and the academic community as such," he said.

"If this gap does exist, or indeed if you feel that it oxists,

the government would be, I am sure, very responsive to suggestions on

how it might be offcctively bridged."

The Financial Secretary pointed out that the universities were

not ungenerously provided for by taxpayers.

During the four years ending June 1974, he said, the government

would have provided #350 million for the universities' recurrent expenditure,

representing four-fifths of the universities' total recurrent income.

"Beyond this," he added, "about one half of the fee income is

paid for from government grants. Furthermore, almost all of the cost of the universities' in building programmes, as well as their senior staff housing programmes, were financed from public funds to the tune of $150

million in the same four years."

Note to Editors:

Copies of the full text of the Financial Secretary's speech are available for collection in the Press boxes at G.I.S.

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