XN000022-1985-03-04 — Page 3

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1985

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COMMITTEE MEETINGS ON EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BEGIN THE FIRST OF ITS FOUR SPECIAL MEETINGS TO EXAMINE IN PUBLIC THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 1985-86 ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6.

THE MEETING WILL CONSIDER PROVISIONS SOUGHT FOR LAW AND ORDER ITEMS.

A LEGCO UNOFFICIAL LAW AND ORDER ESTIMATES STUDY TEAM HAS BEEN FORMED UNDER THE CONVENORSHIP OF HON PETER C WONG TO SCRUTINISE THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS.

OTHER MEMBERS IN THE TEAM ARE HON DR HO KAM-FAI, HON ANDREW SO, HON WONG PO-YAN, HON JJ SWAINE, HON STEPHEN CHEONG, HON MARIA TAM, HON MRS PAULINE NG, HON YEUNG PO-KWAN AND HON KEITH LAM.

THE TEAM HAS PUT UP A TOTAL OF 41 QUESTIONS FOR ORAL REPLIES AND ANOTHER 27 QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLIES BY THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS.

THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS EXPECTED TO APPEAR IN PERSON BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ARE THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT; THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE REGISTRAR. SUPREME COURT THE SOLICITOR GENERAL AND THE COMMISSIONER OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION,

ITEMS TO BE COVERED INCLUDE EXPENDITURE ON MANAGING CLOSED CENTRES FOR VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THE REASONS FOR OPENING A NEW CENTRE WHEN SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN REFUGEE POPULATION IS NOT EXPECTED: CREATION OF NEW POSTS IN THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT; MAINTENANCE OF GARRISON PROPERTY; EXPENDITURE FOR IDENTIFYING AND REPATRIATING OVERSTAYERS FROM CHINA; IMPROVEMENTS AND EXTENSIONS OF EXISTING CUSTOMS FACILITIES AT MAN KAM TO AND LO WU MANPOWER INVOLVED IN ISSUING NEW ID CARDS; PROVISIONS FOR THE NEW UNIT IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE INTERNATIONAL TREATIES AFFECTING HONG KONG AND THE DRAFTING OF BILINGUAL LEGISLATION AS WELL AS THE TRANSLATION OF ALL HONG KONG LAWS INTO CHINESE.

OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERN THE NUMBER OF IMMIGRATION STAFF DEPLOYED TO ENSURE THAT TWO-WAY PERMIT HOLDERS FROM CHINA DO NOT OVERSTAY, STAFF REDEPLOYMENT TO COPE WITH AIRPORT PEAK HOUR DEMANDS," DECREASE OF ICAC PUBLICITY VOTE: INCREASE OF ICAC CASES REQUIRING OVERSEAS INVESTIGATION AND EXPENDITURE ON THE POLICE CADET SCHOOL.

THREE OTHER SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ARE SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 8, 11 AND 12 ON EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND GENERAL SERVICES.

ALL MEETINGS WILL START AT 2.30 PM AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

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