XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT BE PROPER TO MOVE THE RESOLUTIONS UNTIL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAD SPOKEN ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, SIR JOHN SAID, STANDING ORDERS 11 AND 12 AND THE PRACTICE OF THIS COUNCIL REQUIRED MOTIONS TO BE LISTED AND TO BE TAKEN BEFORE BILLS.

+THEREFORE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDING ORDER 68, WITH YOUR CONSENT, I MOVE THAT STANDING ORDER 11 (1) BE SUSPENDED SO THAT THE MOTIONS STANDING IN MY NAME IN THE ORDER PAPER MAY BE DEALT WITH TOMORROW, AFTER THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE FINISHED SPEAKING ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, HE SAID.

BIG SPENDING ON EDUCATION WELCOMED

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMENDED TODAY BY DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN FOR ALLOCATING +MASSES OF PUBLIC MONEY FOR EDUCATION.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR TIEN SAID HE WAS GLAD THAT 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE WAS BEING SPENT ON EDUCATION.

HE NOTED THAT TEN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, FIVE SECONDARY SCHOOL'S AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER ELEMENTS WERE PROPOSED IN EDUCATION.

+IN ALL THIS FIGURE IS 7.81 BILLION - A SUM MORE THAN OUR ENTIRE BUDGET A FEW YEARS AGO, HE SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT IN CONSIDERING HOW THE MONEY COULD BEST BE SPENT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE PROPER NEEDS OF THE TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL SECTOR OF EDUCATION, UPON WHICH HONG KONG'S FUTURE PROSPERITY DEPENDED.

+ THEREFORE URGE THAT THE GRANTS TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SHOULD BE KEPT AT AN ADEQUATE LEVEL, HE SAID.

DR TIEN ECHOED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S VIEW THAT TWO QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ASKED FOR EACH VOTE : +WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES? WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?+

+ IF WE FAIL AT EVERY POINT TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS WE MERELY GET BIGGER GOVERNMENT. BIG GOVERNMENT COMES ABOUT WHEN THE DEMAND FOR SERVICES EXPANDS, DR TIEN SAID.

HONG KONG SHOULD HEED THE WARNING OF BUGETS OUT OF CONTROL IN A NUMBER OF STATES IN WESTERN EUROPE, HE OBSERVED.

/+WHAT IS .............*