XN000022-1985-03-06 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 1985

MR LIAO SAID IN SEPTEMBER, THE BOARDS WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WHICH WILL HELP ESTABLISH A DIRECT LINK WITH THE CENTRAL ORGAN OF GOVERNMENT.

+FOR ALL THESE REASONS, IT IS INCUMBENT ON US AS VOTERS TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT AND VOTE FOR THOSE WE FEEL ARE BEST QUALIFIED TO REPRESENT OUR INTERESTS,+ HE SAID.

+VOTING IS A SIMPLE PROCESS AND TAKES ONLY A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE IS GREAT, HE ADDED.

MR LIAO ALSO URGED EMPLOYERS TO ALLOW THEIR STAFF SOME TIME TO VOTE TOMORROW, EVEN IF IT MEANS BEING AWAY FROM THEIR WORK PLACES ABOUT HALF-AN-HOUR OR SO EARLIER OR LATER THAN USUAL.

+FOR THEIR PART, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WILL BE EXERCISING THEIR DISCRETION TO ENABLE NON-ESSENTIAL STAFF SOME TIME TO GO AND CAST THEIR BALLOTS DURING OFFICE HOURS, MR LIAO SAID.

+ THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE COME A LONG WAY, AND AS WE CLOSE THE OLD TERM WE LOOK BACK WITH SATISFACTION ON THE IR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, HE ADDED,

+TOMORROW, WE BEGIN A NEW PHASE WHICH BRINGS A WIDER PERSPECTIVE TO THE BOARDS. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL SHOW THE IR CONCERN AND SUPPORT BY TURNING OUT TO VOTE, + MR LIAO SAID.

FINANCE COMMITTEE TASK EXPLAINED

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE'S TASK IS TO EXAMINE THE PROPOSALS FOR EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY JUSTIFIED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.

IN HIS INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AT THE PUBLIC MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, SIR PHILIP SAID:

+AS THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND YEAR IN WHICH THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE ON THE GOVERNMENT'S SERVICES FOR THE FORTHCOMING FINANCIAL YEAR ARE TO BE EXAMINED IN PUBLIC, PERHAPS I MIGHT REMIND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OF THE PRESS OF THE BACKGROUND TO OUR PROCEEDINGS.

/+EACH YEAR,