XN000022-1980-03-27 — Page 6

THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980

BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE COST OF PUBLIC HOUSING PRODUCTION WILL BE INCREASINGLY MET FROM GENERAL REVENUE, THE BURDEN WILL BE FURTHER INCREASED IF ADDITIONAL ANNUAL PRODUCTION IS REQUIRED.

+ SUGGESTED THAT PUBLIC HOUSING RENT SHOULD BE ASSESSED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO GENERATE SUFFICIENT RESERVE IN ORDER TO ALLOW FOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS, WITHOUT RELYING TOO HEAVILY ON GENERAL REVENUE.

+RENT SHOULD BE SET AT A LEVEL WITHIN THE FINANCIAL CAPACITY OF MOST TENANTS, SAY 20 PER CENT OF THEIR INCOME.

+AT THE SAME TIME, A NEW RENT SUBSIDY SCHEME SHOULD BE INTRODUCED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST THOSE WHO COULD NOT AFFORD THE RENT, HE SAID.

TERMING THE GROWING CIVIL SERVICE A CONTRIBUTING CAUSE FOR INFLATION+, MR HU SAID HE WAS WORRIED WHETHER THE EXPANSION WAS JUSTIFIED.

ANY INCREASE IN PAY IN REAL TERMS WITHOUT A CORRESPOND ING INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY IS INFLATIONARY, HE EXPLAINED.

+ARE WE ACTUALLY CREATING POSTS TO COPE WITH ADDITIONAL WORKLOAD OR ARE WE CREATING MORE POSTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPERVISION WITHOUT ANY REAL INCREASE IN WORKLOAD?+ HE ASKED.

HE PROPOSED THAT EACH DEPARTMENT SHOULD LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF SIMPLIFYING WORKING PROCEDURES AND STUDY WHETHER THEY COULD CONTRACT OUT ANY WORK PRESENTLY UNDERTAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN ORDER TO REDUCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT.

ON RECREATION, MR HU NOTED THAT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO UNDERTAKE A SPECIAL SURVEY OF LEISURE PURSUITS IN NOVEMBER 1981 AS THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR INFORMATION FOR THE PLANNING OF RECREATIONAL SERVICES.

+THIS ACTION IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND I DO HOPE THAT A LONG-TERM PLAN ON THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES CAN BE DECIDED UPON BEFORE LONG, HE SAID.

SEPARATE TAX ALLOWANCES FOR WORKING MARRIED WOMEN ADVOCATED *****

UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON WONG LAM TODAY (THURSDAY) CALLED FOR THE GRANTING OF SEPARATE TAX ALLOWANCES FOR WORKING MARRIED WOMEN.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID MANY YOUNG WOMEN, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE WELL EDUCATED, LEFT THEIR JOBS ONCE THEY GOT MARRIED.

/HE FELT