XN000022-1979-04-11 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979'

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SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER

OF LAST FINANCIAL YEAR

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THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR (JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30) AMOUNTS TO $391 MILLION, SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE

IN TODAY'S (WEDNESDAY) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

MOVING THE SCHEDULE OF SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID OF THE SUM, PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT ACCOUNTED FOR ALMOST $368 MILLION AND WAS REQUIRED MAINLY AS A RESULT OF MORE RAPID PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF EXISTING PROJECTS AND THE UPGRADING OF 15 PROJECTS TO CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION COVERED BY THE SCHEDULE WILL NOT, HE SAID, RESULT IN A NET INCREASE OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR, AS OFFSETTING SAVINGS HAVE BEEN FOUND UNDER OTHER SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE, OR BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER HEAD 52 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES SUBHEAD 100 ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.

THE MOTION WAS APPROVED.

TRIBUTE TO AUXILIARY SERVICES

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THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PAID TRIBUTE TO THE AUXILIARY SERVICES WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE BILL SEEKS TO FACILITATE ADMINISTRATIVELY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS IN PAY AND ALLOWANCES IN THE AUXILIARY FORCES.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR. DAVIES SAID: +ALTHOUGH WE HAVE ONE HONORARY COLONEL, A COMMISSIONER AND A UNIT CONTROLLER IN OUR MIDST WE DEVOTE VERY LITTLE TIME TO THE AFFAIRS OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS), THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE, THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICES AND THE CIVIL AID SERVICES.+

MR. DAVIES SAID THESE SERVICES ARE STAFFED ALMOST ENTIRELY BY VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, THEY COMPRISE ABOUT 13,000 OFFICERS, WOMEN AND MEN WHO GIVE PART OF THEIR LEISURE TO PERFORM SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

POINTING OUT THAT THEIR DUTIES ARE MULTIFARIOUS, MR. DAVIES SAID: THEY EXTEND FROM MOUNTAIN RESCUE TO STAFFING REFUGEE CAMPS- FROM ASSISTING IN METHADONE MAINTENANCE CLINICS TO PATROLLING ON THE BORDER AND IN THE STREETS TO CARRYING VIPS AND PIGS.