FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1994
18
"THE RESULT WOULD BE PUBLIC SPENDING INCREASES MUCH FASTER THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF OUR ECONOMY, FOLLOWED BY THE GRADUAL SQUEEZING OUT OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, LOWER RATES OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, LESS PROSPERITY FOR ALL, HE SAID.
17
MR TSANG SAID COMMUNITY LEADERS AND THE MEDIA MUST EXAMINE SUCH CLAIMS CRITICALLY.
"THOSE WITH OPPOSING VIEWS, OR THOSE WHO SIMPLY WISH ΤΟ ADVOCATE CAUTION, MUST NOT BE SHY ABOUT SPEAKING UP,' HE SAID.
"FOR IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO, SLOWLY, INSIDIOUSLY, WILL BE LOST, HE ADDED.
++
THE DEBATE
ON TAXES AND FEES, MR TSANG SAID HONG KONG HAD BY FAR THE LOWEST RATE OF TAXATION OF ANY ADVANCED ECONOMY IN THE WORLD.
HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WERE STILL VOICES RAISED IN FAVOUR OF LOWER RATES; AND LOUDER VOICES WHO OPPOSED MODEST INCREASES IN RATES AND CHARGES EVEN WHEN THESE DID NO MORE THAN KEEP UP WITH INFLATION.
"THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS
*GOVERNMENT MONEY' MR TSANG SAID.
**
·
"ALL OUR RESOURCES COME FROM THE POCKETS AND HANDBAGS OF HONG KONG PEOPLE, AND MUST BE SPENT FOR THEIR BENEFIT.
"THAT MEANS A DECISION NOT TO SET FEES TO RECOVER THE FULL COST FOR ONE SERVICE MUST BE COMPENSATED FOR BY TAX LOADED FEES FOR ANOTHER SERVICE, PLUS OF COURSE OUR GENERAL TAXATION.
"DECISIONS TO SUBSIDISE MUST BE CONSCIOUS ONES, TAKEN AFTER CAREFUL THOUGHT AND APPLIED SPARINGLY.
"WE MUST NOT DRIFT INTO A SITUATION WHERE AN ELEMENT OF SUBSIDY IS ASSUMED FOR ALMOST EVERY SERVICE," HE SAID.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACT FOR NORTH LANTAU WATER SUPPLY AWARDED
THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD HAS APPROVED THE AWARD OF A $19.28 MILLION WATERWORKS CONTRACT UNDER THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME (ACP) TO INCHCAPE INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED.
I
THE CONTRACT IS PART OF THE NORTH LANTAU WATER SUPPLY PROJECT TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO THE NEW AIRPORT AT CHEK NORTH KAP KOK, TUNG CHUNG NEW TOWN AND OTHER PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS IN LANTAU.
IT COVERS THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF ELECTRICAL PLANTS AT SIU HO WAN FRESH WATER AND PUI O 'B' RAW WATER PUMPING STATIONS AND TUNG CHUNG FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR.
THE
FLOWMETERS,
SWITCHBOARDS, EQUIPMENT AND OTHER
ELECTRICAL PLANTS INCLUDE POWER SUPPLY
CONTROL AND INSTRUMENTATION
ACCESSORIES.
/THE CONTRACT
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