XN000022-1983-03-23 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983

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EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE SEEN

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THE BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED BY THE HON CHARLES YEUNG TODAY THAT +A PRAGMATIC AND FLEXIBLE APPROACH WOULD BE ADOPTED BY ALL CONCERNED TO ACHIEVE AN EXPEDITIOUS AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RESOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.+

SUCH A RESOLUTION, HE ADDED, WOULD TAKE DUE REGARD OF THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR YEUNG SAID HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING VARIOUS CHINESE LEADERS DURING A VISIT TO PEKING WITH SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK TWO MONTHS AGO.

+TO MY UNDERSTANDING, BOTH LONDON AND PEKING ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS AND THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF A PROTRACTED PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY, + HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT THE ATMOSPHERE OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY WAS ONE OF THE MANY FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY.

ON THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE, MR YEUNG NOTED THAT PUBLIC SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT WOULD ONLY INCREASE BY 4.6 PER CENT IN 1983-84.

HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD INCONVENIENCE SOME NEW SERVICES, SUCH AS THOSE IN THE RECREATION AND CULTURE AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.

HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE PROGRAMME OF REVIEWS OF DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE FINANCE BRANCH WOULD ENABLE THESE SERVICES TO BE DEVELOPED AND OTHER SERVICES TO BE MAINTAINED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS WHERE PRACTICABLE THROUGH REGRADING AND RE-DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF.

+THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH THE HELP OF OTHER CONTROLLING OFFICERS AND THEIR DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEES AND THE RESULTING FLEXIBILITY COULD GREATLY IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY.

+GENUINELY URGENT REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF COULD THEN BE PROCESSED WITHOUT DELAY, HE SAID.

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