XN000022-1980-10-22 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22,

1980

MISS DUNN ALSO CALLED FOR THE HIVING-OFF OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

*THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES NOW COVERED BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS SUCH THAT I THINK IT IS HIGH TIME THE GOVERNMENT SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUGGESTIONS, WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE IN THIS COUNCIL IN THE PAST, TO HIVE OFF SOME OF THEM TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

+1 AM THINKING PARTICULARLY OF THOSE ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE REGARDED EVEN WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS BEING OF A COMMERCIAL NATURE BUT, CLEARLY, ARE NOT RUN AS EFFICIENTLY AS THEY MIGHT BE.✦

CITING EXAMPLES, SHE ASKED WHY DOES THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT, WITH HIS WIDE RANGING STATUTORY AND NON-STATUTORY DUTIES, HAVE TO RUN THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND CAR PARKS AND RUN THEM BADLY?

+WHY CANNOT MANAGEMENT FRANCHISES FOR THESE INSTALLATIONS BE SOLD BY PUBLIC TENDERS?+

SHE SAID CIVIL SERVANTS ARE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATORS WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE BUT WHEN THEY HAVE TO MANAGE ENTERPRISES ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS, THEY ARE CAUGHT BETWEEN CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS AND ATTITUDES ON THE ONE HAND AND THE DICTATES OF BUSINESS PRINCIPLES ON THE OTHER.

+THE RESULT IS OFTEN UNSATISFACTORY, SHE SAID.

OTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR HIVING OFF, SHE CONTINUED, WOULD INCLUDE THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, THE WATERWORKS, AND GARBAGE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SPEAKING ON LAND PRODUCTION, MISS DUNN NOTED THAT THE OUTLOOK FOR BOTH PRODUCTION AND SALES OF RESIDENTIAL AND NON-RESIDENTIAL LAND IN THE THREE YEARS 1981-82 TO 1983-84 IS QUITE GOOD ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE A DEGREE OF MISMATCH BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

BUT SHE CONSIDERED THE LEAD TIME FOR LAND PRODUCTION IS AT LEAST THREE YEARS, ASSUMING THERE IS NO SLIPPAGE+.

SHE THEREFORE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCORD CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS SO AS TO ENSURE THAT LAND PRODUCTION IN THE SECOND HALF OF THIS DECADE IS ADEQUATE FOR OUR NEEDS.

+OF COURSE, THIS IS SPECIAL PLEADING, BUT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IS UNLIKELY TO ALLOW THE SIZE OF THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT AS A WHOLE TO GROW TOO FAST AND SO, BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE LAND PRODUCTION MUST HAVE AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY, I FEEL THAT SPECIAL PLEADING IS JUSTIFIED.

+AND IT IS AT LEAST ARGUABLE THAT A FAILURE TO ACCORD LAND PRODUCTION AN ABSOLUTE PRIORITY IN PAST YEARS HAS BEEN DAMAGING TO OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING, MISS DUNN ADDED.

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