XN000022-1986-03-20 — Page 7

ON

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1986

IT THE MEETING, THE SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANT OF THE RECITAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MRS MARIA YIP, PRESENTED THE REVIVED REGIONAL COUNCIL DRAFT ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1986-87.

SHE SAID TOTAL REVENUE ACCRUING TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL IN 1986-87 WAS NOW ESTIMATED AT $1 004.4 MILLION, WHICH WAS $1.4 MILLION MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.

+ THE MORE SIGNIFICANT OF THE CHANGES THAT HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT THIS ARE THE ADDITIONAL RENTAL INCOME OF $1.187 MILLION WHICH WILL BE DERIVED FROM THE RECENT RENEWAL OF TENANCIES FOR THE SAN HUI MARKET AND THE LETTING OUT OF THE NEW MUI WO FERRY CONCOURSE COOKED FOOD CENTRE, MRS YIP SAID.

MRS YIP SAID EXPENDITURE WAS NOW ESTIMATED AT $853.6 MILLION, OR $5.8 MILLION LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE.

+ THE MOST SIGNIFICANT OF THE CHANGES THAT HAS BROUGHT ABOUT THIS IS A DECREASE OF $4.479 MILLION IN SALARIES, ON-COSTS AND ALLOWANCES, SHE SAID.

THE DRAFT ESTIMATES HAVE TO BE RATIFIED BY THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, ON ITS ESTABLISHMENT ON APRIL 1, BEFORE BEING SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR.

DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS AGREED TO INVITE THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO DELEGATE CERTAIN OF ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS TO OFFICERS OF THE REGIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SO THAT DEPARTMENTAL OPERATIONS MAY CONTINUE ON BEHALF OF THE COUNCIL.

THE DEPARTMENT'S ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (HEADQUARTERS),

TR GEOFFREY ORR, SAID THAT ON APRIL 1, THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WOULD ASSUME A RANGE OF EXECUTIVE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS PREVIOUSLY VESTED IN THE DIRECTOR OF REGIONAL SERVICES UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT REGULATIONS.

+AS THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL NEED TO EXERCISE MANY OF THESE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS THROUGH PUBLIC OFFICERS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCIL TO MAKE DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY, + MR ORR SAID.

J

MEMBERS ALSO ENDORSED THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL AT ITS FIRST MEETING ON APRIL 1. THE FORMAL APPROVAL OF MEMBERS OF THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL BE SOUGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION IS HELD.

A REPORT ON THE WORKINGS OF THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL, PREPARED FOR SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR, WAS ALSO DISCUSSED AT TODAY'S MEETING.