XN000022-1980-03-27 — Page 15

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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980

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+WHILE THEY REPRESENT SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN REAL EXPENDITURE, THE SHIFTS OF EMPHASIS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED, HE STRESSED.

IMPORTANT PUBLIC PROGRAMMES, SAID MR WU, WERE DETERMINED TO A LARGE EXTENT BY THE PROPOSALS MADE BY RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENTS AND THE FATE OF THESE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS LAID IN THE HANDS OF THE FINANCE BRANCH AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

HE CONSIDERED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S YARDSTICK, THE MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING SERVICES AND THEIR EXPANSION TO MEET DEMAND AT PRESENT STANDARDS, A THOROUGHLY REASONABLE CONCEPT SO LONG AS ITS APPLICATION IS NOT ALLOWED TO STIFLE INITIATIVE OR TO DENY IMPROVED QUALITY.

HOWEVER HE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE UNHEALTHY FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE PROGRAMMES WHICH WERE BEING DEVELOPED WITHIN OUR SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS BUT WHICH HAD TO BE POSTPONED FOR FINANCIAL REASONS.

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MR WU ALSO TOUCHED ON HIS +HOBBY-HORSE+ THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF ARTS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A SUB-HEAD FOR THE PROMOTION OF SPORTS IN THIS YEAR'S ESTIMATES.

+ IF THE CREATION OF THIS SUB-HEAD IS JUSTIFIED BY THE AMOUNT OF MONEY NOW BEING SPENT IN THIS DIRECTION THEN IT IS EQUALLY JUSTIFIABLE THAT WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE RATHER RAGGED SITUATION REGARDING THE PROMOTION OF THE ARTS,

HE SUGGESTED THAT THE NEW RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SHOULD WORK TOWARDS GREATER COORDINATION OF EFFORT AND DIRECTION.

PLEA FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN LESS OBVIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS DEMONSTRATED TIME AND AGAIN THAT ITS POLICY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING SOCIAL SERVICES, IS BEING PURSUED WITH VIGOUR AND DETERMINATION, BUT PUBLIC FRUSTRATION IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF MINOR INADVERTENCIES, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID TODAY.

+LET US NOT FORGET THAT WHILE SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENTS SUCH AS THE MTR AND OUR MASSIVE HOUSING PROGRAMME ARE LAUDABLE, WE MUST NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE LESS TANGIBLE SOCIAL SERVICES, ANY DEFICIENCY OF WHICH MAY NOT IMMEDIATELY BE APPARENT.

+ IT IS PERHAPS IN THIS AREA THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INCREASE ITS VIGILANCE, HE SAID.

MR WONG MADE THE REMARKS WHILE SPEAKING ON HIS TWO PREVIOUS PROPOSALS WHICH, HE CONTENDED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS EXPEDITIOUSLY AND EFFECTIVELY+.

/HIS PROPOSALS.....