XN000022-1985-02-27 — Page 24

WEDNESY, FEBRUARY 27, 1985

SIR JOHN SAID TWO FURTHER OPTIONS HAD BEEN EXAMINED, EITHER TO INTRODUCE A MINIMUM PERIOD OF ABSENCE ABROAD (SAY SEVEN DAYS) BEFORE THE CONCESSION APPLIED, OR TO INTRODUCE SEPARATE CONCESSIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS,

HE SAID HE INITIALLY FOUND THE FORMER OPTION ATTRACTIVE GIVEN THE INCREASING NUMBER OF DAY-TRIPS OUT OF HONG KONG. HOWEVER, IT MUST BE REJECTED. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS CONTROL POINTS WERE ALREADY UNDER CONSIDERABLE PRESSURE AND THE ADDITIONAL TIME THAT WOULD BE TAKEN FOR CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO VERIFY THE PERIOD OF ABSENCE WOULD AGGRAVATE THE CONGESTION TO AN UNBEARABLE EXTENT, TRAVELLERS WOULD BE INCREASINGLY IRRITATED BY THE DOUBLE CHECKING REQUIRED.

SIR JOHN WENT ON: THE INTRODUCTION OF SEPARATE CONCESSIONS FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS HAS CLEAR ATTRACTIONS, SUCH A SCHEME IS ALREADY IN OPERATION IN OTHER COUNTRIES. IT SHOULD BE EASY TO OPERATE ADMINISTRATIVELY WITHOUT ADDITIONAL STAFFING RESOURCES. IT WILL ALSO BE RECALLED THAT BETWEEN 1960 AND 1982 ALL ADULT PASSENGERS RETURNING FROM MACAU WERE LIMITED TO A DUTY FREE CONCESSION OF ONLY 100 CIGARETTES AND A LITRE OF WINE. THE MEASURE PROPOSED WILL NOT BE POPULAR BUT IN DUE COURSE WE WILL, NO DOUBT, ALL BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO IT.+

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CIVIL SERVICE FREEZE TO CONTINUE

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PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS OF $10.1 BILLION IN THE DRAFT 1985-86 ESTIMATES MAKE UP 36 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IN THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT.

+AS BEFORE, SAID SIR JOHN, THIS PROVISION MAKES NO ALLOWANCE FOR ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENT THAT MAY BE AGREED. IF REQUIRED ANY FUNDS NEEDED WILL HAVE TO BE FOUND FROM WITHIN THE $1.7 BILLION ADDITIONAL RECURRENT COMMITMENTS VOTE.+

THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE POSTS SHOWN IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES IS 150 430 WHICH INCLUDES 4 390 POSTS CREATED DURING 1984-85. THIS TOTAL EXCLUDES POSTS FOR WHICH EMOLUMENTS ARE MET BY BODIES SUCH AS THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, UMELCO, THE KCR AND THE SENIOR STAFF COURSE.

+THE POLICY OF STABILISING THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE DURING 1985-86 IS BEING PURSUED. A TOTAL OF 2 419 NEW POSTS HAS BEEN AGREED FOR ESSENTIAL NEW SERVICES MAINLY IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE. ALL OR MOST OF THIS TOTAL WILL BE OFFSET DURING THE COMING YEAR BY THE DELETION OF VACANT POSTS IN SOME DEPARTMENTS AND THROUGH OUR VALUE FOR MONEY PROGRAMMES.+ SAID SIR JOHN.

/+THE AIM