XN000022-1986-10-07 — Page 3

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JUEL DAY, OCTOBER 7, 1986

SIR DAVID SAID THE ADVANCES IN COMMUNICATIONS AND COMPUTER ISATION, BESIDES BRINGING THE GLOBAL MARKETS WITHIN THE REACH OF A SINGLE TOUCH OF A COMPUTER KEY, HAS MARKED THE STRENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE COUNTRIES OF THE PACIFIC REGION BY THE IMPROVED LINKS BETWEEN STOCK EXCHANGES AND STOCK MARKETS.

+THERE IS VAST POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN THE REGION TO BUILD ON OUR STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES TO MAKE THIS PART OF THE WORLD THE FOCUS OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT CENTURY, HE SAID.

+THE CONFERENCE WHICH OPENS TODAY WILL MAKE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THIS PROCESS.+

$3 MILLION MORE SOUGHT FOR MICRO-COMPUTERS

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE ASKED TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO APPROVE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $3 MILLION TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL MICRO-COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN 1986-87 UNDER A SCHEME TO PROMOTE THE USE OF MICRO-COMPUTERS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

THE CURRENT PROVISION OF $4 MILLION ONLY ALLOWS FOR THE PURCHASE OF AROUND 100 MICRO-COMPUTER SYSTEMS IN 1986-87, LEAVING 80 APPLICATIONS UNSATISFIED.

AS ALL OUTSTANDING APPLICATIONS ARE AS GOOD AS THOSE APPROVED BOTH FROM A TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL VIEWPOINT AND AS THEY ARE ALL URGENTLY REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, IT IS PROPOSED THAT SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION BE APPROVED TO SATISFY THE OUTSTANDING DEMAND AND TO ELIMINATE RE-VETTING OR FURTHER STUDIES IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

OTHER ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION ARE:

* A SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION TO MEET INCREASED

EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM THE ENGAGEMENT OF DEPUTY DISTRICT JUDGES AND TEMPORARY MAGISTRATES;

* AN INCREASE IN THE COMMITMENT OF $10 MILLION

FOR INVESTIGATIONS INTO COMMERCIAL CRIME;

* A NON-RECURRENT COMMITMENT FOR THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE TO PURCHASE SEVEN NEW ARMOURED PERSONNEL CARRIERS TO REPLACE THE EXISTING 14 SARACEN VEHICLES ;

✯ THE TRANSFER