XN000022-1990-04-25 — Page 13

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1990

12

CONCERN OVER AMBITIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

OVER

THE HON KINGSLEY SIT, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXPRESSED CONCERN THE GOVERNMENT'S AMBITIOUS INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS AND RISING PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF A GRADUAL SLOWDOWN OF THE ECONOMY AND HIGH INFLATION.

"I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALE FOR PUSHING AHEAD AT A FAST PACE WITH MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE NEW AIRPORT, WHICH WILL PUT SEVERE STRAINS ON THE PUBLIC PURSE, HE SAID.

SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR SIT SAID HE WAS NOT SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO STICK TO THE PRESENT TIME SCHEDULE FOR THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS WITHOUT ANY IDEA AS TO THE DETAILED FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.

WHILE ADMITTING THAT THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATED THE FACT THAT A NEW AIRPORT WOULD BE INEVITABLE GIVEN THE STABLE GROWTH OF HONG A KONG'S EXTERNAL TRADING LINKS, HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ADOPT CAUTIOUS APPROACH.

ON PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE, MR SIT SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE A CONSCIOUS ATTEMPT ΤΟ REVIEW ITS ESTABLISHMENT, IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND TIGHTEN EFFICIENCY.

HE SAID WHILST CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH RESPONSE TO CHANGING DEMANDS ON PUBLIC SERVICES, ENSURE THAT ANY REAL INCREASE IN PAY WAS PRODUCTIVITY.

WAS IT WAS MATCHED BY INCREASED

NECESSARY IN IMPORTANT ΤΟ

PROPOSALS, MR SIT

ON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REVENUE OBSERVED THAT THE IMPOSITION OF A 1.5 PER CENT INCREASE IN RATES WOULD NULLIFY THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO ENCOURAGE HOME OWNERSHIP AMONG THE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME GROUP SO THAT THEY COULD ENJOY BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS.

TO LESSEN THE BURDEN ON THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP, LIMITING THE INCREASE TO FLATS WITH A GROSS FLOOR AREA FEET.

MR SIT ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED FUEL TAX WOULD EVENTUALLY BE PASSED ON TO CONSUMERS GENERAL FARE REVISION, AND AGGRAVATE THE BURDEN OF THE GROUP.

HE SUGGESTED EXCEEDING 700

INCREASE IN

IN TERMS OF MIDDLE INCOME

ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR SIT OBSERVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT SOON HAVE TO TAKE STOCK ON TANGIBLE PROGRESS, MATCH IT AGAINST THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES DEVOTED TOWARDS MAKING SUCH PROGRESS, AND CONDUCT VALUE FOR MONEY STUDIES TO ASCERTAIN FUTURE STRATEGIES IN THE LIGHT OF THE MANY COMPETING PRIORITIES IT FACED.

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