XN000022-1976-11-24 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1976.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 1976/77

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $54.8 MILLION FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1976/77.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN MOVING THE MOTION, SAID THAT OF THIS SUM, $47 MILLION WAS REQUIRED AS THE RESULT OF THE MORE RAPID THAN EXPECTED PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF EXISTING PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS AND FOR FOUR PROJECTS RECENTLY UPGRADED TO CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS WOULD NOT RESULT IN A NET INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR AS OFFSETTING SAVINGS HAD BEEN FOUND UNDER OTHER SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE, OR BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER HEAD 50 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES SUBHEAD 100 ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, HE POINTED OUT, HAD ALREADY APPROVED ALL ITEMS IN THE SCHEDULE.

BILLS PASSED

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THREE BILLS PASSED THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THEY WERE THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976- THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC OMNIBUS SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER'S BILL, THE BRITISH RED CROSS SOCIETY (HONG KONG BRANCH) BILL 1976, ALSO PASSED ITS COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING.

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