XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

HE THEREFORE EXPRESSED HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR ANTI-AVOIDANCE LEGISLATION.

FINALLY, MR CHEN SAID HE FULLY ENDORSED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S AIM TO STABILISE THE TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COUPLED WITH HIS TOUGH VALUE FOR MONEY CRITERION.

+THIS IS ACHIEVED BY CUTTING OUT WASTE AND BY INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY, HE SAID,

HE REITERATED A POINT MADE BY HIM EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH REGARD TO THE NEED OF A TRAINING SCHEME WHEREBY ALL OFFICERS RISING TO THE DIRECTORATE RANK IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WERE REQUIRED TO BE TRAINED IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.

+THIS IS ESPECIALLY RELEVANT GIVEN THE NO GROWTH POLICY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, HE SAID.

EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR CHEN SAID HE WAS GRATIFIED TO NOTE THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD TURNED TO INDIRECT TAXATION IN THIS YEAR'S BUDGET PROPOSALS.

HOWEVER, HE FELT THE PROPOSALS HAD NOT GONE FAR ENOUGH TOWARDS FALLING MORE HEAVILY ON THE BETTER OFF+.

+WHAT I AM REALLY SAYING IS THAT THE WELL-OFF HAVE NOT BEEN ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE PUBLIC COFFERS, GIVEN THE LOW TAX BASE IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.

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MORE SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR INDUSTRIAL GROWTH

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THE HONG KONG ECONOMY WAS BASICALLY SOUND BUT NEEDED REFINEMENT TO FURTHER DEVELOP INDUSTRY, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID AT THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THERE WERE MANY AREAS IN WHICH THE GOVERNMENT COULD ENHANCE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND HE FOCUSED HIS DISCUSSION ON THREE TOPICS WHICH HE CONSIDERED IMPORTANT PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN, AUTOMATION AND FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROMOTION.

ON PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN, MR LEE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO GO AHEAD AND ESTABLISH A PRODUCT INNOVATION AND DESIGN UNIT (PIDU) AS DESIGN AND QUALITY WERE IMPORTANT TO THE EXPORT ORIENTATED ECONOMY.

/HE SAID