XN000022-1986-01-28 — Page 9

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28, 1986

8

RSD SETS OUT QUARTERLY ACCOUNTS

*****

REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1985 AMOUNTED TO $23.9 MILLION AND $117 MILLION RESPECTIVELY.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE RSD'S SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANT, MRS MARIA YIP, AT A MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY) OF THE WAYS AND MEANS SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL,

+ TOTAL RECEIPTS OF REVENUE FOR 1985-86 MAY EXCEED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE BY $11 MILLION, SHE SAID.

+THIS IS ATTRIBUTABLE MAINLY TO INCREASED SALES OF NICHES AT FU SHAN COLUMBARIUM AND INCREASED REVENUE FROM MARKET STALLS RENTAL ON AUCTIONING OF NEW STALLS.+

MRS YIP SAID ALSO THAT EXPENDITURE UNDER DEPARTMENTAL EXPENSES SUBHEADS AND THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT SUBHEADS WAS WITHIN BUDGET FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR. AND SLIGHT SAVINGS WERE EXPECTED UNDER THESE TWO CATEGORIES.

THE FUTURE REGIONAL COUNCIL, SHE SAID, WOULD BE SERVICED BY THE HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION WHICH HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH A NUMBER OF BANKING SERVICES AT NO COST.

+THESE INCLUDE CASHING FACILITIES AT ALL THE BANK'S BRANCHES SPECIFIED BY THE COUNCIL, PRINTING AND SUPPLY OF BLANK CHEQUES FOR COMPUTER PREPARATION IN SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY THE COUNCIL AND PROCESSING OF COMPUTER TAPES PRODUCED BY THE COUNCIL FOR DIRECT PAYMENT INTO THE BANK ACCOUNTS OF THE PAYEES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS, SHE SAID.

THE COMMITTEE DECIDED AT THE MEETING TO AUTHORISE THE RSD TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONCERNING A SIX-MONTH TRIAL SCHEME TO SELL TICKETS FOR REGIONAL COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS AT ITS OWN VENUES THROUGH THE URBAN COUNCIL'S COMPUTERISED TICKETING SYSTEM (URBTIX) IN THE URBAN AREA.

THE SCHEME AIMS TO GAUGE THE DEMAND FOR TICKETS IN THE URBAN AREA IN RESPECT OF REGIONAL COUNCIL'S CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS.

SHOULD THE SCHEME PROVE SATISAFACTORY, CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO WIDENING THE SCOPE OF PARTICIPATION IN THE SCHEME TO INCLUDE THE INSTALLATION OF URBTIX TERMINALS AT REGIONAL COUNCIL VENUES, SO THAT TICKETS FOR BOTH REGIONAL COUNCIL AND URBAN COUNCIL PRESENTATION WOULD BE AVAILABLE THROUGH OPTIC OUTLETS IN BOTH THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AND URBAN COUNCIL AREAS.

19