XN000022-1986-03-26 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1986

27

SUPPORT FOR EMPHASIS ON THRIFTINESS

*****

LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON PANG CHUN-HOI TODAY (WEDNESDAY) VOICED SUPPORT TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S EMPHASIS ON +THRIFTINESS+ BUT OBSERVED THAT QUITE A NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS WERE WASTING PUBLIC FUNDS.

SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, + HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE $7 463 000 REQUIRED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE YEAR 1986-87 ON PAYMENT OF TRAVELLING EXPENSES TO ITS STAFF, AN INCREASE OF 18.5 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE INCREASE, MR PANG SAID, HAD BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE PAYMENT OF HOME TO OFFICE TRAVELLING EXPENSES TO STAFF OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL IN SHA TIN, AND HE NOTED THAT THE HOSPITAL WAS PROVIDED WITH STAFF QUARTERS BUT NO REASON BEEN GIVEN WHY IT WAS NOT FULLY UTILISED.

MR PANG ALSO ASKED WHY THERE WAS A NEED TO EMPLOY CONSULTANT FIRMS FROM OUTSIDE TO CONDUCT RESEARCHES OR STUDIES.

HE SAID HE FIRMLY BELIEVED THAT MUCH EXPENDITURE IN THIS AREA COULD BE SAVED IF DEPARTMENTS WOULD CEASE TO EMPLOY OUTSIDE FIRMS, ADDING THAT THE FINDINGS WOULD BE MUCH MORE PRAGMATIC IF STUDIES WERE CONDUCTED IN-HOUSE.

HOWEVER, MR PANG EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN LIMITED TO 0.3 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE DESPITE THE INCREASE IN DEMANDS FOR ITS WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS.

+THIS HAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF WORK REQUIRED, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, WHERE APPROPRIATE PREVENTIVE MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN AND MORE FREQUENT INSPECTIONS MUST BE MADE, HE SAID.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS THEREFORE SHOULD NOT REMAIN FROZEN ALL THE TIME, HE STRESSED.

MR PANG SAID HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO GROWTH IN THE REAL WAGE OF LOCAL MANUFACTURING WORKERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

TURNING TO REVENUE PROPOSALS, HE COMMENTED THAT HUSBANDS AND WIVES SHOULD BE SEPARATELY ASSESSED FOR SALARIES TAX.

HE FURTHER PROPOSED THAT THE TAX ON NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS SHOULD BE EITHER RESCINDED OR REDUCED SINCE CONSUMERS OF SUCH DRINKS WERE NORMALLY FROM THE LOWER CLASS AND STUDENTS.

/AS FOR