XN000022-1990-04-26 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1990

QUESTIONING THE USEFULNESS OF THE SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS, HE SAID IN CRUDE TERMS, IT WAS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WHO REALLY CONTROLLED THE PURSE STRINGS AND WHEN HE HAD MADE UP HIS MIND, THAT WAS THE END OF THE STORY.

ON TAXATION, MR CHEUNG STRESSED THAT HE FOUND THE 30 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE DUTY RATE ON PETROL AND DIESEL OIL UNACCEPTABLE, AS IT WAS BOUND TO AFFECT THE COST OF TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY.

TO MR CHEUNG, THE INCREASE IN RATES ON PROPERTY WAS EQUALLY UNACCEPTABLE, AS IT WAS A FURTHER SQUEEZE ON THE ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO WORKED HARD PAINSTAKINGLY TO OWN THEIR OWN SMALL FLATS.

TURNING ΤΟ EDUCATION, MR CHEUNG SAID THAT PROVISION OF $10 MILLION SUBSIDY TO KINDERGARTENS ADEQUATE.

THE PROPOSED WAS FAR FROM

FULL SUBSIDY FEES BY

TO ·

"IF IT IS, NOT GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO PROVIDE TO KINDERGARTENS, THE ANTICIPATED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN KINDERGARTENS MUST BE MET BY CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN THE AIDS NEEDY FAMILIES," HE SAID.

MR CHEUNG ALSO CRITICISED GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY IN THE PROVISION OF PHOTOCOPIERS AND COMPUTERS FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

ON THE REVIVAL OF UNISESSIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS, HE SAID HE WAS UTTERLY DISMAYED TO SEE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FINANCIAL PROVISION TOWARDS THIS AIM UNTIL 1992-93.

LASTLY, ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR CHEUNG CAUTIONED AGAINST ANOTHER PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE SALARIES OF SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, AND URGED THAT CIVIL SERVANTS TAKE MORE PRIDE IN THEIR SERVICE AND PLACE LESS EMPHASIS ON MONETARY REMUNERATIONS.

ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION INSUFFICIENT

THE HON MIRIAM LAU, TODAY (THURSDAY) CRITICISED THE BUDGET FOR FAILING TO MEET THE SET POLICY OF ALLOCATING MORE RESOURCES FOR BETTER EDUCATION.

SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS LAU POINTED OUT THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION WAS 13.8 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH 15.1 PER CENT LAST YEAR.

/THE AMOUNT