XN000022-1992-02-24 — Page 2

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1992

DRAFT EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR 1992-93 PUBLISHED

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (MONDAY) PUBLISHED ITS DRAFT EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR 1992-93. THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SPEND $121.2 BILLION IN 1992-93. THIS IS 16 PER CENT MORE THAN THE GOVERNMENT'S EXPENDITURE PLANS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR AND WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPAND SERVICES IN PRIORITY AREAS.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR K.Y. YEUNG SAID:

COSTS OF

BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON CAPITAL PROJECTS."

"OF THE TOTAL OF $121.2 BILLION, $84.6 BILLION WILL COVER

PROVIDING EXISTING AND NEW GOVERNMENT SERVICES,

THE

AND $36.6

MR YEUNG EXPLAINED:

"THE STEADY EXPANSION OF THE ECONOMY HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE ΤΟ INCREASE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IN REAL TERMS (THAT IS, ABOVE THE RATE OF INFLATION) IN ALL OUR MAJOR PROGRAMME AREAS. THIS WILL MEAN EXPANDED AND IMPROVED SERVICES FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. THE PACKAGE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO EXPAND SERVICES BUT AVOID ADDING TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.

"RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE FULL RANGE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SERVICE PROGRAMMES. FOR EXAMPLE, EXPENDITURE ON:

HEALTH WILL INCREASE BY 27 PER CENT TO $13 BILLION;

EDUCATION WILL INCREASE BY 13 PER CENT TO $19 BILLION; AND

SOCIAL WELFARE WILL INCREASE BY 15 PER CENT TO $7 BILLION."

THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH ON MARCH 4.

SHW SATISFIES WITH HEALTH AND WELFARE FUNDING

* * *

COMMENTING ON THE DRAFT EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR 1992-93 PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID SHE WAS CONTENT WITH THE AMOUNT EARMARKED FOR THE HEALTH AND WELFARE PROGRAMME AREAS.

SHE SAID EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH WILL INCREASE BY 27 PER CENT ΤΟ $13 BILLION AND THAT ON SOCIAL WELFARE UP BY 15 PER CENT TO $7

BILLION.

/"THIS WILL