XN000022-1987-04-01 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1987

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ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE GENERAL TENOR OF REMARKS MADE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THESE RESERVES, HE SAID THE FACT THAT THEY WERE RECOVERING FROM A PERIOD DURING WHICH THEY WERE FALLING IN REAL TERMS WAS REASSURING.

TO A SUGGESTION THAT HE DELIBERATELY DID NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ECONOMY TO PRODUCE A MORE OBVIOUSLY POPULAR BUDGET, MR JACOBS SAID: +1 DO NOT CONSIDER THAT BUDGETS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO SECURE SHORT-LIVED POLITICAL KUDOS.+

MR JACOBS THANKED MEMBERS FOR THE IR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET AND ASSURED THAT THE CONTENTS OF THE DEBATE WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE PROCESS OF PUTTING TOGETHER FUTURE BUDGETARY PROPOSALS.

CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTED TO WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG

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THE CIVIL SERVICE IS COMMITTED TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY IN HONG KONG AND HELPING TO GOVERN IT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

+THE STYLE OF THE GOVERNMENT MAY CHANGE, PERSONALITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN THIS COUNCIL MAY CHANGE, BUT I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE MUTUAL CONCERN OF MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL CERTAINLY NOT CHANGE,+ HE ADDED.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1987, MR FORD SAID GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF GOVERNMENT ACTIONS HAD BECOME INEVITABLE AS HONG KONG PEOPLE WERE NOW MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE, MORE DEMANDING AND MORE PREPARED TO SPEAK THEIR MINDS.

+PUBLIC DEBATE ON GOVERNMENT BUSINESS HAS ALSO BECOME MORE LIVELY, SOMETIMES EVEN HEATED, AND THE FULLEST JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY GOVERNMENT MEASURE IS NOW EXPECTED AS A MATTER OF COURSE.

+THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE HEALTHY AND GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY

AND WE IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE WELCOME THEM, HE SAID.

BUT MR FORD SAID WHEN THE CLAMOUR OF DEBATE WAS OVER. DECISIONS MUST BE TAKEN AND SOMETIMES THEY WERE NOT POPULAR WITH ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

/+ALTHOUGH THERE