XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 81

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Wednesday, October 16, 1974

what demand there is now, and to respond very quickly to any

increase in demand in the future.

Provided we retain this

competitive edge I expect Hong Kong to ride current problems

with less trouble than most other countries. I certainly

expect the economy to continue to grow, and the Financial

Secretary's estimate made last February of a growth rate of

4% in real terms still looks the most probable outcome for

this year.

There are not many industrial countries in the

world that could say the same.

If I might say so Hong Kong is so accustomed to growth

that is phenomenal, that we should guard against too pessimistic

a reaction to growth that is, by comparative standards, merely

enviable.

REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES

This is the background against which we have been

taking stock

During the last two years, as Hon. Members know,

fre

we have prepared long-range plans covering the next 10 years.

for what want to do in the major fields of Government spending

housing, education, medical and health services, social welfare.

To these must be added other plans already fairly precise covering

expenditure on the expansion of the road system, the Kowloon-

Canton Railway, the Mass Transit project, the Police, the Prisons

and the Fire Services. Other comparatively new fields have been

opened up such as community relations and countryside amenities,

which though relatively cheap all add. to the total bill.

/Taken

جية الطرقية لهم ...

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