XN000022-1991-02-25 — Page 4

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1991

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ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY

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THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL WILL (MARCH 1} AND FORMALLY MOVED BY THE SIR PIERS JACOBS, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MARCH 6, A GOVERNMENT

DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR BEGINNING ON APRIL 1, 1991 HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE

"THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES FOR EXPENDITURE FROM GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT OF $73.5 BILLION ON THE EXPENSES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT OVER THE EXPENDITURE APPROVED FOR 1990/91," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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"OF THIS SUM, $16 BILLION IS FOR EDUCATION; $14 BILLION FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE; AND $12.1 BILLION FOR SECURITY INCLUDING POLICE. THESE THREE AREAS TOGETHER WILL ACCOUNT FOR 57 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, HE SAID.

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MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT ESTIMATES BEFORE THE SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH WILL EXAMINE THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS.

OF A LOAN

THE APPROPRIATION BILL PROVIDES, IN ADDITION, FOR THE TRANSFER TOTAL OF $26.8 BILLION TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, THE FUND AND THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT FUND.

IN

THE FUNDS ARE USED TO FINANCE THE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMME, LOANS TO STUDENTS IN TERTIARY EDUCATION AND PERMANENT INVESTMENT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND OTHER STATUTORY BODIES.

WILL

DRAFT ESTIMATES OF REVENUE TO THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT BE ISSUED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S BUDGET SPEECH.

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NEW MULTICHANNEL SOUND IN TV BROADCASTS TO BE ADOPTED

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY. SIR ROGER LOBO, ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT MULTICHANNEL SOUND USING THE "NICAM" STANDARD WILL BE ADOPTED IN TELEVISION BROADCASTS IN HONG KONG A9 FROM JULY 1.

IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON BOTH TVB AND ATV.

COMPANDING PROVIDES EXCELLENT BROADCAST STANDARD

SIR ROGER SAID THAT THE "NICAM" (NEAR INSTANTANEOUS AND MULTIPLEXING) STANDARD WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT SOUND QUALITY AND IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING USED IN HONG KONG.

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