XN000022-1985-05-01 — Page 15

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1985

+ IN PUTTING FORWARD THIS MOTION FOR THE UNOFFICIAL SIDE, IT IS SEVICUS THAT WE DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THE MATTER SHOULD BE REFERFED TO THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, SIR ROGER SAID.

+ THE BILL IS WITH THIS COUNCIL AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MEMBERS TO DECIDE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.

+ANY PROPOSALS FOR LEGISLATION MADE BY THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED BY THIS COUNCIL IN ANY EVENT AND I BELIEVE WE SHOULD GET ON WITH THE JOB NOW, HE SAID.

APPROPRIATION BILL APPROVED WITH ONE ABSTENTION

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AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON LYDIA DUNN ABSTAINED FROM VOTING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MISS DUNN SAID AT THE END OF HER SPEECH IN THE DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING SHE PUT A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY,

+

+1 EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO TAKE A DEFINITIVE VIEW OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1985 WITHOUT ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS,+ SHE SAID.

+UNFORTUNATELY AND I REGRET HAVING TO SAY THIS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH SUFFICIENT OR SUFFICIENTLY CONVINCING ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS.

+FOR INSTANCE, HE EXPLAINED WHY THE GOVERNMENT PUBLISHES ITS SELECTIVE STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S TRUE FINANCIAL POSITION?'

+HE IGNORED ENTIRELY THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFINITION OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR, WHICH EXCLUDES BOTH THE MTR AND THE KCR, IS HOPELESSLY MISLEADING.

+WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY IS THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR EITHER IN ABSOLUTE OR RELATIVE TERMS AND ARE UNABLE, THEREFORE, TO TAKE AN OVERALL VIEW OF OUR SITUATION.

/+HE RESOLUTELY