XN000022-1981-06-10 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1981

EXTRA $5 316M EXPENDITURE APPROVED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $5 316 MILLION FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1980-81.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID THAT OF THIS SUM, $3 500 MILLION WAS REQUIRED AS A CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE COST OF CONSTRUCTING THE ISLAND LINE.

OTHER MAJOR ITEMS INCLUDED $638 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS (INCLUDING 34 PROJECTS UPGRADED TO OR INCLUDED IN CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME)- $400 MILLION TO MEET LOANS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED HOME PURCHASE SCHEME FOR CIVIL SERVANTS- AND $394 MILLION FOR VARIOUS PAY ADJUSTMENTS FOR BOTH THE CIVIL SERVICE AND SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS.

MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION RESULTED IN A NET INCREASE OF $4 484 MILLION IN THE EXPENDITURE APPROVED FOR THE YEAR, THE REMAINDER BEING OFFSET UNDER OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE AND BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER THE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTES.

SQUATTERS DESIGN OWN HUTS ****

STRUCTURES IN SQUATTER AREAS, WHETHER TOLERATED OR NOT, ARE PUT UP WITHOUT ANY REGULATION AS TO DENSITY, LOCATION, DESIGN, OR BUILDING MATERIALS, THE HON D.C. BRAY,

THE HON D.C. BRAY. SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, SAID TODAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHARLES YEUNG.

THE ONLY GOVERNMENT RULE AT PRESENT IS ONE OF CONTROL, NAMELY, THAT ANY REBUILDING OR REPAIR OF TOLERATED STRUCTURES WHICH MAKES THEM BIGGER OR WHICH INVOLVES THE USE OF PERMANENT MATERIALS IN REPLACEMENT OF TEMPORARY MATERIALS IS NOT ALLOWED.

+WITHIN THESE LIMITS, THE DESIGN OF AND FACILITIES WITHIN THE SQUATTER HUTS ARE DECIDED ON BY THE SQUATTERS THEMSELVES, + MR BRAY SAID.

BILLS PASSED

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THE AERIAL ROPEWAYS (SAFETY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 AND THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1981 WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THREE OTHER BILLS --THE PUBLIC HOLIDAY (PRINCE OF WALES' WEDDING) BILL 1981, THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 AND THE MAGISTRATEŠ (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1981 - WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.

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