XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

ON OMELCO STIPEND AND ALLOWANCES, A GOVERNMENT

SPOKESMAN SAID

THAT THESE ALLOWANCES WERE REVIEWED ANNUALLY WITH A VIEW TO INTRODUCING REVISED RATES, WHERE NECESSARY, AT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW

LEGCO SESSION.

"THE STIPEND IS REVISED WITH REFERENCE TO THE MIDDLE BAND OF THE ANNUAL PAY TREND SURVEY CONDUCTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES. THE GENERAL EXPENSES ALLOWANCE IS REVISED WITH REFERENCE ΤΟ PRICE INDICES RELATING TO SECRETARIAL SALARIES, ENTERTAINMENT AND TRAVELLING,

IN THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF ALLOWANCES HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON THE BASIS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF PAYMENTS.

"THE REVIEW RECOMMENDS AN INCREASE IN THE STIPEND FROM $9,000 BY $600 TO $9,600 AND IN THE GENERAL EXPENSES ALLOWANCE FROM $11,000 BY $700 To $11,700 PER MONTH. INCORPORATING THESE INCREASES INTO THE NEW SYSTEM OF A SINGLE ALLOWANCE FOR OMELCO MEMBERS PROVIDES A MAXIMUM MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $21,300.

THE REVIEW ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT THE ALLOWANCE FOR DB MEMBERS SHOULD BE ADJUSTED FROM $6,000 TO $6,400. CHAIRMEN OF THE DB'S, AS AT PRESENT, WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE A SPECIAL ALLOWANCE EQUAL IN AMOUNT TO THE MEMBER'S ALLOWANCE. THIS WILL ALLOW DB CHAIRMEN TO CLAIM A TOTAL OF $12,800.

THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL WERE FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS, THE TWO COUNCILS SHOULD BE INVITED ΤΟ ACCEPT SETTING THE ALLOWANCES FOR THEIR MEMBERS AT THE AVERAGE OF THOSE FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THAT IS, AT $13,000 OR $13,800 UNDER THE REVISED RATES.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION CONSULTATION WITH THE TWO COUNCILS ON THE MATTER.

HAD BEEN IN

INCREASE IN

THE ADJUSTMENTS WILL RESULT IN AN ANNUAL EXPENDITURE OF $4,126,000 MADE UP OF $1,468,000 AND $2,658,000 OMELCO AND DB'S RESPECTIVELY.

FOR

$12 MILLION APPROVED TO MEET REMAINING PAYMENTS FOR PATROL CRAFT

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED AN ADDITIONAL $12 MILLION TO MEET THE REMAINING PAYMENTS FOR FIVE REPLACEMENT ROYAL NAVY PATROL CRAFT, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE IN COMMITMENT FROM $457 MILLION TO $469 MILLION.

IN JUNE 1981, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE APPROVED A COMMITMENT OF $455 MILLION TOWARDS THE COST OF HONG KONG'S 75 PER CENT CONTRIBUTION TO THE REPLACEMENT OF FIVE ROYAL NAVY PATROL CRAFT WHICH FORM THE HONG KONG SQUADRON.

/IT WAS