XN000022-1990-04-25 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1990

BUDGET CONTAINS ALL THE RIGHT SENTIMENTS

* * * * *

THE

FINANCIAL

CONTAINED ALL THE RIGHT

SECRETARY'S

SENTIMENTS,

ON SPEECH

THE THE HON EDWARD

1990-91 HO,

BUDGET TOLD THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE BUDGET NEED

SPEAKING IN THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR HO OBSERVED THAT EMPHASISED A FIRMER CONTROL OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE AND THE

THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC SECTOR TO MAINTAIN THE DISCIPLINE THAT

EXPENDITURE SHOULD NOT EXCEED THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE FOR MONEY AND INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

NOTING THAT THE ECONOMY HAD BEGUN TO SLOW

OF VALUE

DOWN, AND THAT IN EXPENDITURE ON MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL THE FACE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF

IT PROJECTS AND OF INCREASED PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES, MR HO SAID

OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND THE WAS IMPERATIVE THAT TIGHTER CONTROL BUDGET SHOULD BE TURNED INTO ACTION.

OVER PAY AND BENEFITS FROM

OF OVERHAUL

HE SAID THAT INDUSTRIAL ACTIONS SOME SECTORS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD HIGHLIGHTED THE URGENCY OF THE

THE NEED TO HAVE SOME VERY MACHINERY.

FUNDAMENTAL

GOVERNMENT

MR HO RENEWED HIS CALL

FOR

FURTHER PRIVATISATION OF

PUBLIC

SERVICES.

IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITIES THAN "THERE IS NO BETTER INCENTIVE TO TO PERFORM TO COMPETITION AND MARKET FORCES," HE SAID.

PROVIDE FOR

THE CONSUMERS'

MR HO SAID THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE GIVEN THE ROLE TO SOME OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES AND THAT, FOR THE SAKE OF WELFARE, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO AVOID THE CREATION OF MONOPOLIES.

ON THE

CIVIL

SERVICE,

WAS

HE HE SAID OF THE PROPOSALS

STILL

LOOKING FOR THE PUT FORWARD IN GOVERNMENT'S IMPLEMENTATION PAMPHLET ON PUBLIC SECTOR REFORMS, IN PARTICULAR THE ESTABLISHMENT THE "TRADING FUND ACCOUNTING SYSTEM”.

MR

HO

SAID

THAT

ON HOUSING POLICY, SHOULD BE THE MAIN THRUST AND THAT PUBLIC RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO WERE REALLY IN NEED,

PRIVATE

HOME

OF

OWNERSHIP RENTAL HOUSING SHOULD BE

WERE URGING TO THE INCREASED LIKELY THE SAME

AS REGARDS INFLATION, HE SAID THE SAME PEOPLE WHO FOR MORE STRINGENT CONTROL ON INFLATION, OBJECTING DUTIES AND RATES, AND OTHER PRICE ONES WHO WERE ASKING FOR HIGHER WAGES AND INCREASED PUBLIC SERVICES.

WERE INCREASES,

SPIRALLING

HE SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IN FACT LAID IN THE UPWARD WAGES AND SALARIES CAUSED BY SHORTAGE OF MANPOWER AT ALL GRADES.

HO SAID THE SUCCESSFUL ON THE AIRPORT AND PORT PROJECTS, MR

MORE CONFIDENCE AMONG IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE PROJECTS WOULD INJECT THE HONG KONG PEOPLE AND HE HOPED THAT CHINA WOULD ENDORSE THEM,

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