XN000022-1984-10-10 — Page 3

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WHINESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1984

SIR JOHN SAID THE EXCESS WAS LARGELY ACCOUNTED FOR BY THE 1983 SALARIES REVISION FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE ($186 MILLION) AND HOVERNMENT SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS ($193 MILLION) AND FOR THE

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YMENT OF PENSIONS, RETIRING ALLOWANCES AND GRATUITIES TO CONTRACT FFICERS ($55 MILLION).

OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDED THE APPROVED INCREASES IN RATES AND INCREASED CASELOADS IN RESPECT OF CHILD CARE CENTRES FEE ASSISTANCE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE AND THE GRANT TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL TO MEET CASH FLOW REQUIREMENTS WHICH COULD NOT BE REALISTICALLY ASSESSED AT THE TIME OF PREPARING THE ESTIMATES, HE SAID.

HE REPORTED THAT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR THE WHOLE OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR WAS $2 082 MILLION LESS THAN THE TOTAL APPROVED ESTIMATE OF $35 475 MILLION IN THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE 1983.

THE EXPENDITURE CHARGED TO THE 31 HEADS, HOWEVER, EXCEEDED THE SUM APPROPRIATED FOR THOSE HEADS BY THE ORDINANCE, AS SUFFICIENT OFFSETTING SAVINGS COULD NOT BE FOUND WITHIN THE HEADS CONCERNED.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE, THIS EXCESS HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE PRESENT BILL.

+SAVINGS MADE IN OTHER SUBHEADS ARE DUE TO CONTINUED TIGHT CONTROL OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE,+ SIR JOHN SAID, I WOULD AGAIN LIKE TO THANK THE MANY CIVIL SERVANTS WHO HAVE SO SIGNALLY CONTRIBUTED TO RESTRAINT. +

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

NAMES WILL NOT BE DISCLOSED

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY SAID TODAY THAT HE HAD BEEN INFORMED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE THAT THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WROTE TO THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE WOULD NOT BE PUBLISHED OR DISCLOSED, ALTHOUGH THE CONTENTS OF SUCH LETTERS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE ASSESSMENT.

IT WAS THE COMMISSIONER'S INTENTION TO PUBLISH THE TEXT OF SUBMISSIONS FROM MAIN ORGANISATIONS AS ANNEXES TO THE ASSESSMENT REPORT UNLESS THEY SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED OTHERWISE, HE SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON K.C. CHAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE ASSESSMENT REPORT TOGETHER WITH ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS WOULD BE SUBMITTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE COMMISSIONER OF THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE HAD CONFIRMED THAT NO RECORDS WOULD BE KEPT IN THE ASSESSMENT OFFICE. MR BRAY SAID.

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