XN000022-1974-03-13 — Page 8

Wednesday, March 13, 1974

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Of the total Non-Recurrent Public Works expenditure of $1,408

million, #255 million is for roadwork which is 78 per cent up on 1973–74,

125 per cent up on 1972-73 and as much as 275 per cent up on 1971-72.

"Of course, these increases are in terms of cost which have escalated

almost 100 per cent since 1971," he said.

Nevertheless, he added it was exhilarating to know that "our

transport problems are given the proper priority in that our long neglected

roadwork programme is being expanded and accelerated."

Mr. Szeto labelled the Financial Secretary's proposals to

restructure vehicle licence fees and parking charges as a "bitter pill"

for the already suffering motorists.

He recalled that the Legislative Council was promised by the

Financial Secretary that he would refrain from proposing any restraint

measures on road use until after a debate on a comprehensive transport

policy had taken place.

By putting forward the proposals, he said, the Financial Secretary

would pre-ompt the public from the opportunity of debating the much publicised

Green Paper on Transport Policy which the government had pledged to it.

For this reason alone, Mr. Szeto said, he was unable to support

his proposals.

He said that since it was the Financial Secretary's chief aim to

raise additional revenue to off-set deficit, it would be prudent to forgo a

fraction of the anticipated additional revenue and defer the proposals for

three or four months until after the publication and subsequent debate in the

Council on the policy after the Green Paper had emerged as a White Paper.

The resultant loss of revenue, he added, would be minimal and might

be recovered from other sources without tears.

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