XN000022-1986-05-13 — Page 12

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TUESDAY, MAY 13, 1986

+THEN WHEN WE REALLY NEED MONEY WE MAY NOT GET IT BECAUSE THE PUBLIC'S REPRESENTATIVES IN LEGCO MAY WELL THEN TURN AROUND AND TELL US THAT SINCE OUR BUDGETS HAVE BEEN OVER-PESSIMISTIC NO DOUBT THIS TIME WE CAN LIVE WITH LESS

MONEY.+

THUS, MR SULKE APPEALED TO ALL URBAN COUNCIL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND ALL DEPARTMENT MANAGERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COUNCIL'S FORTHCOMING BUDGET, TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR IN DECEMBER, WAS MUCH MORE ACCURATE THAN THOSE OF THE LAST TEN YEARS.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE WERE MANY REASONS FOR OVER-BUDGETING AND ONE OF THE MAJOR FACTORS WAS THAT PROJECTS WERE DELAYED AS A RESULT OF CONTRACTORS' FAILURE TO MEET WORK SCHEDULES.

+ I WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT, TO AVOID THESE WIDE FLUCTUATIONS FROM YEAR TO YEAR BETWEEN PROJECTED AND ACTUAL EXPENDITURE ON CAPITAL PROJECTS, A DEDICATED CAPITAL WORKS FUND, SEPARATE FROM THE COUNCIL'S GENERAL FUND, BE CREATED LATER IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID.

FINALLY, MR SULKE STRESSED THAT THE AIM OF THE FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE WAS NOT TO CURB SPENDING FOR THE SAKE OF MAKING CUTBACKS.

+ THE COUNCIL HAS MANY BROAD RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE FINANCE SELECT COMMITTEE WISHES TO SEE THEM ALL FULFILLED SO THAT CITY SERVICES ARE MAINTAINED AND BETTERED WHENEVER POSSIBLE, AND MORE AND BETTER FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HE SAID.

COUNCIL SEEKS WAYS TO PROMOTE IMAGE

***

THE URBAN COUNCIL IS NOW LOOKING AT VARIOUS WAYS TO HELP PROMOTE ITS IMAGE AND ACTIVITIES SO THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ITS ROLE AND THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, MR H.M.G. FORSGATE, SAID THIS TODAY AT THE COUNCIL'S MONTHLY OPEN MEETING.

HE SAID THE COUNCIL WAS STRIKING A NEW AND QUICKER PACE AS IT SET OUT TO DO AN EVER BETTER JOB TO MEET THE RISING ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS PROSPEROUS AND TREMENDOUSLY VITAL TERRITORY.

/+THIS CAN