XN000022-1977-03-31 — Page 4

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977

+IN + IN PARTICULAR,+ SHE CONTINUED, +1 SHOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT PROPORTION IS DUE TO OVER-ESTIMATION OF CONTRACT PRICES= WHETHER THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IS SATISFIED THAT THE DEPARTMENT MAINLY CONCERNED - THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT -- IS ADEQUATELY STAFFED AND ORGANISED FOR ITS VAST RESPONSIBILITIES AND WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT THE BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM IS AT FAULT IN ANY WAY.+

MISS DUNN ALSO SOUGHT AN ASSURANCE FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT THE EXPENDITURE BUDGETTED FOR IN 1977/78 IN CAPITAL ACCOUNT OF OVER $2,000 MILLION WAS MORE REALISTIC.

SHE ADDED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY A MORE DEFINITIVE DEFENCE OF THE PROVISION SOUGHT FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, PARTICULARLY BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER ALSO ASKED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WHAT ARRANGEMENTS EXISTED IN THE FINANCE BRANCH OR ELSEWHERE TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS.

SHE SAID UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD BE TOLD WHAT THE INTERNAL MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS WERE AND BE PERIODICALLY ADVISED OF THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED.

COMMENTING ON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S ECONOMIC FORECASTS FOR 1977, MISS DUNN INDICATED THAT SHE DID NOT THINK THAT THE DRAMATIC SURGE IN HONG KONG'S EXPORT PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS +SHOULD LEAD US TO BE TOO CONFIDENT EVEN ABOUT THE CURRENT YEAR+.

THE FORECAST GROWTH OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN REAL TERMS IN 1977 OF SEVEN PER CENT WAS QUITE HIGH, SHE NOTED.

+AT SEVEN PER CENT IT IS EQUAL TO OUR TREND GROWTH AND DEPENDS, INEVITABLY, ON A VARIETY OF ASSUMPTIONS+.

DESPITE THESE RESERVATIONS, MISS DUNN STRESSED THAT SHE COULD NOT FAULT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGETARY STRATEGY FOR 1977/78.

SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND HIS STAFF FOR THE +CLARITY AND PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH AND RELATED DOCUMENTS+ WHICH, SHE STRESSED, WERE AN IMPORTANT EXAMPLE OF OPEN GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG.

14