XN000022-1978-03-30 — Page 10

9

-

THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1978

+PUTTING IT MORE PLAINLY, PEOPLE ARE BEING MORE EXTRAVAGANT IN USING WATER, MR. CHEN SAID, WHICH IS NOT IN UNLIMITED SUPPLY IN HONG KONG.

TO DETER SUCH WASTEFUL USE, HE SUGGESTED INTRODUCING A STEEP TAR IFFF STRUCTURE FOR DOMESTIC USERS WHICH WOULD HAVE REGARD TO THE MINIMUM AMOUT OF WATER REQUIRED TO KEEP A FAMILY ALIVE AND HEALTHY AND WHICH WOULD NOT HURT THE CAREFUL USERS.

HE CAUTIONED AGAINST ANY INCREASE IN CHARGES FOR INDUSTRY. TO DO SO WHEN IT IS ALREADY FACING MANY PROBLEMS THREATENING THE VIABILITY OF CERTAIN SECTORS IS, IN HIS OPINION, CONTRARY TO HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC INTEREST.

NEED FOR URGENT REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL

CORRDINATING AND POLICY MAKING ROLE *****

THE HON. LYDIA DUNN SAID AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE

TODAY THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO REVIEW THE CENTRAL COURDINATING AND POLICY MAKING ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT IN THE LIGHT

OF A VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS OF OVER $20,000 MILLION AND A CIVIL SERVICE OF OVER 126,000.

ARE:

OTHER AREAS WHICH MISS DUNN THOUGHT DESERVE URGENT ATTENTION

* THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND

DEPARTMENTS,

* THE ADEQUACY OF PRESENT MANAGEMENT STRUCTURES, AND

*

THE WAY IN WHICH SENIOR OFFICERS ARE DEPLOYED.

SHE DID NOT ADVOCATE THE USE OF PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS BUT THOUGHT AN IN-HOUSE' EXERCISE WOULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE AND LESS DISRUPTIVE.

SHE POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE PRESSING QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE SIZE AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH WILL BE EXPANDED BY A FURTHER 10,000 POSTS IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR TO 135,000 - 136,000 AT A TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $2,800 MILLION,

MISS DUNN ASKED WHETHER SUCH A SIZEABLE INCREASE IS REALLY JUSTIFIED, AND WHETHER SUCH A COMPLEMENTING AND GRADING PROCEDURES ENSURE MAXIMUM PRODUCTIVITY FROM EXISTING STAFF BEFORE ADDITIONAL POSTS ARE APPROVED.

SHE FELT THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HIMSELF WAS NOT TOO CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH.

SHE NOTED

Page 10Page 11