XN000022-1992-03-04 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1992

WE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OURSELEVES FS

*

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID WE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OURSELVES, AND IN OUR ABILITY ΤΟ CONTINUE TO CREATE ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND ΤΟ ENJOY ITS

REWARDS.

CONCLUDING HIS FIRST BUDGET SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR MACLEOD SAID WE SHOULD NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF EXAGGERATING DIFFERENCES OR PROBLEMS WHICH DID EXIST, OR WE RISKED CAUSING OTHERS TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN US.

"I DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE EFFECT DEBATES IN THIS COUNCIL, OR IN THE WIDER PUBLIC ARENA, CAN HAVE ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE," HE SAID.

MR MACLEOD SAID HE HAD DEALT WITH THE SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THE REAL INCREASE IN PLANNED SPENDING IN THOSE SERVICES, AT SOME LENGTH, PRECISELY BECAUSE SOME OF THE PUBLIC DEBATE ON THOSE ISSUES WAS BEING CONDUCTED IN SUCH SIMPLISTIC AND MISLEADING TERMS THAT THE PUBLIC WAS IN DANGER OF BEING LED TO BELIEVE THE OPPOSITE OF THE TRUTH.

ΤΟ

"THE TRUTH, I MUST REITERATE, IS THAT WE REMAIN COMMITTED HELPING THE MAN IN THE STREET, AND TO INCREASING SPENDING ON SERVICES WHICH BENEFIT HIM.

"THIS COMMITMENT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE GREAT STRENGTHS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND THIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CASE. BUT ALONG WITH THIS MUST GO A WILLINGNESS TO RE-APPRAISE PRIORITIES IN ALL AREAS.

"RESOURCES ARE LIMITED, AND THERE MUST BE NO SACRED COWS CREATED BY SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS. WE MUST ALWAYS BE READY TO REDEPLOY RESOURCES TO WHERE THEY ARE MOST NEEDED, HE SAID.

MR MACLEOD ALSO SOUGHT TO REASSURE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT PAST, OR INDEED FUTURE POLITICAL CHANGE DID NOT MEAN THAT HONG KONG WAS ABOUT TO EMBARK ON RADICAL CHANGES IN POLICY, WHETHER IN TAXATION OR OTHER MATTERS.

"INDEED, IT IS IN MY VIEW ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S GREAT STRENGTHS THAT THERE IS A BROAD CONSENSUS ABOUT THE NEED.TO PRESERVE THE KEY ELEMENTS OF HONG KONG'S SUCCESS THE COMMITMENT TO THE MARKET ECONOMY, TO COMPETITION, AND TO PROVIDING COMMUNITY SERVICES FROM THE WEALTH CREATED BY THAT ECONOMY.

"THESE COMMUNITY SERVICES ENSURE THAT EVERYONE RECEIVES PROPER EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, AND CAN RISE AS FAR AS THEIR TALENTS ENABLE THEM.

"WE ARE AN OPEN, MERITOCRATIC SOCIETY, WHERE SUCCESS INSPIRES EFFORT TO EMULATE THAT SUCCESS, NOT JEALOUSY. RAGS TO RICHES ARE COMMONPLACE IN HONG KONG. LONG MAY THAT CONTINUE TO BE

STORIES So," HR

SAID.

/THE FINANCIAL