XN000022-1980-04-30 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1980

+FOLLOWING THE PREPARATION OF A DRAFT BILL IN 1977 WHICH AIMED TO CONTROL ALL MARTIAL ARTS SCHOOLS, DOUBTS WERE EXPRESSED WHETHER SUCH FAR-REACHING LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS WERE APPROPRIATE IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

+AS EXPLAINED TO THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AT THAT TIME, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND I DECIDED NOT TO PROCEED WITH THESE PROPOSALS.

+ INSTEAD, FOLLOWING DISCUSSIONS, THE MOST RECENT OF WHICH WERE IN FEBRUARY. WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO DESIGN MORE SELECTIVE CONTROLS,+ MR DAVIES SAID.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS APPROVED ****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $267 MILLION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1979-80.

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID THAT OF THE SUM, PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT ITEMS ACCOUNTED FOR $146 MILLION AS A RESULT OF MORE RAPID PROGRESS ON A NUMBER OF APPROVED PROJECTS AND THE UPGRADING OF FIVE PROJECTS TO CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

+ANOTHER $9 MILLION IS REQUIRED TO MEET THE INCREASE IN SUBVENTIONS ARISING FROM THE CONVERSION OF PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS TO FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT OFFSETTING SAVINGS OF $209 MILLION HAD BEEN FOUND UNDER VARIOUS OTHER SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE, OR BY FREEZING FUNDS UNDER HEAD 52 MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES SUBHEAD 100 ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.

OF THE REMAINING $58 MILLION NOT OFFSET BY SAVINGS, HE SAID, $21 MILLION WAS FOR ACCELERATED INSTALMENT PAYMENTS FOR NINE MARINE POLICE SECTOR LAUNCHES RELATED TO ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ACTIVITIES, $12 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL DUTY ALLOWANCES FOR JUNIOR POLICE OFFICERS DEPLOYED TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, $10 MILLION FOR EXPENSES RELATING TO REFUGEES AND $5 MILLION FOR INITIAL EXPENSES ON THE REINFORCEMENT OF THE GARRISON,

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