XN000022-1986-03-27 — Page 35

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HURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986

MRS TAM SAID SHE BELIEVED IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD ADOPT PROPER MEASURES TO SOLVE THESE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, THE EXISTING STANDARD COST SUBVENTION SYSTEM SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE EMPLOYED.

IN THE MEANTIME, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD APPLY THE STANDARD COST CALCULATION METHOD TO MORE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.

+BECAUSE THE EXISTING SYSTEM NOT ONLY GIVES VOLUNTARY AGENCIES A CERTAIN DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM IN DEPLOYING THEIR RESOURCES. AT THE SAME TIME IT ALSO ENSURES THAT THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES PROVIDE SOCIAL SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE APPROVED STANDARD AND OBJECTIVES.

+THIS FUNDAMENTAL SPIRIT SHOULD BE AFFIRMED, SHE SAID.

SPEND MORE TO BUILD A STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE

******

THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE TIME IS RIPE FOR HONG KONG TO COMMIT ITSELF TOWARDS MORE SPENDING, PARTICULARLY TOWARDS BUILDING A STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE.

SPEAKING DURING THE TWO-DAY BUDGET DEBATE, MR CHEUNG SAID HE WAS CONFIDENT THERE WOULD BE A HEALTHY ECONOMIC SITUATION FOR THE FORSEEABLE FUTURE BEARING STEADY INCOME TO THE PUBLIC PURSE'. WITH A REASONABLY BRIGHT FUTURE, THE TERRITORY SHOULD NOW LOOK AT THE STAKE IT HAD IN HAND.

THERE WAS A BALANCE OF $15.6 BILLION IN THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT TO COVER CONTINGENT LIABILITIES BUT WHAT WAS REALLY AT RISK SEEMED TO BE ONLY $7.5 BILLION,

IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A TOTAL BALANCE OF $10 BILLION, VARIOUS FUNDS - CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE, DEVELOPMENT LOAN, HOME OWNERSHIP, LOTTERIES, MASS TRANSIT AND STUDENT LOAN.

IN THE

HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT WE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO INJECT LESS INTO THE FUNDS IN THE FUTURE TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING LEVELS OF ACTIVITY AS SOME OF THEM WERE, OR WERE BEGINNING TO BE, SELF-REVOLVING.

IN BUILDING A STRONGER INFRASTRUCTURE, HE SAID THE LIST OF PROJECTS IN THE CAPITAL WORKS AND OTHER PROGRAMMES OF ACTIVITY SHOULD BE GIVEN CAREFUL SCRUTINY. AMONG VARIOUS ITEMS THERE WAS SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORT, PUBLIC SAFETY, LAW AND ORDER, ENGINEERING, THE ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATION. BUT HE SAID THE BUILDING OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES PERHAPS DESERVED HIGHER PRIORITY AND MORE ATTENTION.

MMR CHEUNG