XN000022-1992-04-01 — Page 11

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1992

"I BELIEVE THAT THIS PARADOX IS A SYMPTOM OF THE FACT THAT WE - THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT - ARE STILL DEVELOPING OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF OUR VERY UNUSUAL CONSTITUTION," HE SAID.

NOTING THAT MANY MEMBERS HAD MADE THE POINT THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT TREAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS IF IT WERE A RUBBER STAMP, MR

MACLEOD ASSURED THAT THIS HAD NEVER BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT BEFORE FRAMING THE BUDGET, THE GOVERNMENT LOOKED VERY CLOSELY AT THE MANIFESTOS OF THE ELECTED MEMBERS IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THEIR CONCERNS AND PRIORITIES.

HE EXPLAINED WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAD DONE TO ASCERTAIN THE VIEWS OF LEGCO MEMBERS BEFORE FRAMING THE BUDGET.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ARRANGED A DISCUSSION WITH THE OMELCO IN HOUSE IN DECEMBER.

T

WE

ISSUED THE FULL DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE TO MEMBERS AND TO THE MEDIA A FULL 10 DAYS BEFORE BUDGET DAY.

EXPENDITURE

"WE BRIEFED MEMBERS ON THE CONTENTS OF THE ESTIMATES ON THE FRIDAY BEFORE BUDGET DAY.

"WE HAVE QUESTIONS IN THE

MORE THAN DOUBLED THE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR MEMBERS' SPECIAL MEETINGS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE.

"I HAVE ALSO MADE A POINT OF MEETING ANY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL, OR GROUP OF MEMBERS, WHO WISHED TO EXPRESS A VIEW ON THE BUDGET. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE SESSIONS WERE FAR TOO LATE ΤΟ HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT ON MY BUDGET STRATEGY FOR THIS YEAR, MR MACLEOD SAID.

"

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT THE BUDGET WAS A COMPLEX PROCESS AND IT INVOLVED FAR MORE THAN SIMPLY LOOKING AT A LIST OF SUGGESTIONS AND SELECTING THE ONES WE LIKED THE LOOK OF.

"IN FACT, THE BUDGET PROCESS BEGINS VERY SOON AFTER THE

PREVIOUS YEAR'S BUDGET HAS BEEN APPROVED.

"FOR EXAMPLE, THE PREPARATIONS FOR THIS YEAR'S BUDGET BEGAN WITH THE UPDATING OF THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST IN MAY LAST YEAR. THIS PROVIDED THE BASIS FOR ASSESSING THE PRIORITIES FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PAST POLICY DECISIONS, THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL.

THE

"WE THEN APPLY OUR BUDGETARY GUIDELINES BEFORE ASSESSING IMPLICATIONS AND OPTIONS ON THE REVENUE SIDE OF THE BUDGET PACKAGE, MR MACLEOD EXPLAINED.

/HE SAID