XN000022-1978-03-29 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1978

ON THE SEVEN REVENUE PROPOSALS BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, R. LI SUGGESTED THAT THE ONE DESIGNED TO REDUCE LOSSES BEING INCURRED ON CERTAIN POSTAL SERVICES BE ABANDONED.

HE SAID THE INCREASES IN THIS PROPOSAL WERE INSIGNIFICANT BRINGING IN A MERE 38 MILLION NEXT YEAR, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST INVOLVED IN MAKING THE CHAI.GES "IGHT WELL SWALLO. UP THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE,

+! FAIL TO SEE ANY MERIT IT THE INCREASED CHARGES FOR THESE BASIC COMPONENTS IN OUR COMMUNICATION NETWORK. AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, I FEEL THAT TAXPAYERS AND THE PUBLIC ARE ENTITLED TO THESE SERVICES, MR. LI SAID.

+AFTER ALL, THE POST OFFICE, AS A WHOLE, IS NOT A LOSS- MAKING PROPOSITION.+

SPEAKING ON HONG KONG'S RESPONSE TO PROTECTIONISM IN CERTAIN COUNTRIES, MR. LI SAID WE SHOULD BE A LEADER' RATHER THAN BE CONTENTED WITH 2EING A 'FOLLOWER IN INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION, AND URGED THAT GOVERMENT TAKE THE INITIATIVE.

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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, BUT HE THOUGHT MUCH MORE CAN BE DONE IN THE ALLOCATION OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INDUSTRIES.

MR. LI AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN CALLING FOR +CAREFUL THOUGHT TO BE GIVEN TO THE WAY 11. .HICH THE ADMINISTRATION FIGHT EE ADAPTED TO FEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE YEARS AHEAD+. BUT FIRST, IR. LI SUCCESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REASSESS ITS PRESENT ACTIVITIES AND CONSIDER WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE, WHETHER THEFE 10 A "EED FOR A ASTER PLAN AND HON BESTE CAT, CARRY OUT OUR AL TO TAKE FOLG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IX.

+THERE IS CLEARLY INSUFFICIENT PL. me I' CERTAIN AREAS. ALSO, CTHER AREAS HAT AS AT CHE TIME ADEQUATE NEEDS TO DE UP-DATED. CO-ORDINATION AND PHASIC OF ACTIVITIES CAN ALSO BE IMPROVED,+ HE ADDED,

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+C THAT WE HAVE GONE THROUGh (CESS 101. „ITHOUT HAVING SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ECOTTY AND ARE ON THE UPSWING, I THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE TO TAKE STOCK AGAIN,+

HE SAID WE SHALL AVE TO CONSIDER. THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CIVIL SERVICE IGHT BE ODIFIED TO DEAL WITH FUTURE PROELENS.

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COMMENTING ON THE INCREASING SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, LI STRONGLY URGED THAT EXTREME CARE LE TAKEN TO ONLY ALLC. INCREASES.HICH ARE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL.

R.

HE ALSO SAID IT IS TIME WE HAVE OTHER CLOSE LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF THE ASUMISTRATION, „172 PISHAPS SOME ATTENTION GIVER TO PROGRESS ADE IN THE LOCALISTICK OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND IN THE I TRODUCTIO OF MAEVENT PRINCIPLES.

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MR. LI