XN000022-1994-06-08 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1994

THE RELATIONSHIP

BALANCES, HE ADDED.

BETWEEN THE TWO BODIES INVOLVED CHECKS AND

"BOTH BODIES HAVE CERTAIN POWERS; AND FOR THE SYSTEM TO WORK PROPERLY, EACH HAS TO RESPECT THOSE POWERS, AND SEEK BY DIALOGUE TO FIND SOLUTIONS ACCEPTABLF TO THE OTHER, HE SAID.

"THUS,

FOR EXAMPLE, BEFORE THE ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTS ANY INITIATIVE TO CHANGE THE LAW, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PERSUADE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL, THAT SUCH A CHANGE IS NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE FOR THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG.

"BEFORE WE IMPOSE OR INCREASE ANY TAXATION, WE MUST SKER THE APPROVAL OF THIS COUNCIL, AND BEFORE WE APPROPRIATE ANY FUNDS TO CARRY

OUR POLICIES, WK NEED TO OBTAIN THE

OF SUPPORT

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL, HE SAID.

CHUT

W

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"BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THE INITIATIVE TO TAKE THESE ACTIONS, UNLESS IN VERY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, LIES WITH THE GOVERNMENT MOST CLEARLY IN RESPECT OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS," HE ADDED.

CITING

HE NOTED THAT IT WAS COMMONPLACE TO RETAIN THE RIGHT TO PROPOSE EXPENDITURE OR INCREASE TAXES IN THE HANDS OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE UK AND AUSTRALIA AS EXAMPLES.

IT WOULD

"AND IT IS THE CUSTOM FOR GOOD REASON DIFFICULT INDEED TO GOVERN WITHOUT ASSURANCE OF THE LEVEL OF AND EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.

BE VERY REVENUE

+

TO AGREE THAT

WE

"TO PUT IT MILDLY, TO ACCEDE TO THIS MOTION SHOULD HAND OVER TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE POWER TO PROPOSE CHANGES OF THE TYPE WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THIS MOTION WOULD HARDLY BE CONDUCIVE TO STABILITY, OR EFFICIENCY, OR GOOD GOVERNMENT.

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MOTION DEBATE ON HIGHER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION

DEVELOPMENT

MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

AND

OF

MR PRESIDENT,

то

OUR

THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG, IT IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST ENABLING YOUNG PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO DEGREE PLACES. IT IS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG WILL HAVE :

THE

TRAINED MANPOWER TO SUSTAIN OUR BCONOMIC GROWTH AND

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:

THR RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS WHO CAN ANALYSE OBJECTIVELY AND THINK INDEPENDENTLY, WITH THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY IN MIND; AND

/- THE QUALITY