XN000022-1985-02-25 — Page 2

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1985

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FS TO PRESENT BUDGET WEDNESDAY

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HONG KONG'S BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1985-86 WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 27).

THE PROCEEDINGS WILL START AT 2.30 PM, WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE MOVES THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1985 AND OUTLINES HONG KONG'S ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1985-86.

THE ESTIMATED HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE BILL TO BE PUBLISHED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE THE SAME AFTERNOON.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH 27 AND 28, WHEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.

ON APRIL 17, OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THE IR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES. IF NECESSARY, THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL ON MAY 1.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE OVER RTHK'S RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH), AND COMMERCIAL RADIO'S CHINESE CHANNEL ONE.

RTHK WILL ALSO BROADCAST LIVE THE OTHER BUDGET SITTINGS ON MARCH 27 AND 28, APRIL 17, 18 (IF NECESSARY) AND MAY 1 ON RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).

THE BUDGET SITTINGS WILL ALSO BE COVERED, IN NORMAL NEWSCASTS AND BULLETINS OF RTHK, COMMERCIAL RADIO, HK-TVB AND ATV.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

TO AFFORD MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO PREPARE THEIR BUDGET STORIES ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 27), A CLOSED WORKING SESSION WILL BE HELD IN THE GIS PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, QUEEN'S ROAD, CENTRAL.

THE GROUND RULES ARE AS FOLLOWS

NO PART OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S SPEECH OR RELATED DOCUMENTS IS TO BE PUBLISHED OR BROADCAST PRIOR TO DELIVERY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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REPORTERS