XN000022-1994-06-22 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 1994

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THE FINAL COMPONENT IS THE ESTIMATED QUANTITY REQUIRED FOR EACH EXPENDITURE ITEM. HERE, THE FIGURES WERE AGAIN DERIVED ON THE BASIS OF RETURNS FROM PAST CANDIDATES, PLUS ASSESSMENT BY THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. I SHOULD PERHAPS ADD THAT IN SO

WE DOING, HAVE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECT OF SMALLER CONSTITUENCIES AND SMALLER ELECTORATE SIZES FOR THE 1994 DISTRICT BOARDS ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE EFFECT OF MORE KEENLY CONTESTED ELECTIONS ON THE OTHER.

I HOPE THE ABOVE EXPLANATION CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT THE

CEILING HAS NOT BEEN ARBITRARILY SET. $60,000

RATHER, IT

THE IS OUTCOME OF A THOROUGH PROCESS OF OBJECTIVE ANALYSIS BASED ON ACTUAL EXPERIENCE AND INFORMAL ASSESSMENT.

MR PRESIDENT, WE HAVE CAREFULLY STUDIED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEE'S PROPOSAL ΤΟ SET THE CEILING AT A LOWER

OF LEVEL $45,000. OUR JUDGMENT IS THAT WHILST THIS CEILING WOULD NOT CAUSE UNDUE DIFFICULTIES TO THE ELECTIONEERING ACTIVITIES OF CANDIDATES MATERIALLY AFFECT THE ELECTION RESULTS, IT DOES NOT FULLY REFLECT THE ACTUAL NEEDS OF CANDIDATES. FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS NOT TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT A NUMBER OF EXPENDITURE ITEMS WHICH ARE NOW COMMONLY USED IN ELECTION CAMPAIGNS.

HAVING REGARD TO ALL THIS, AND WHILE WE UNDERSTAND THE REASONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SUB-COMMITTEE FOR PROPOSING A LOWER LIMIT, THE ADMINISTRATION'S VIEW REMAINS THAT THE $60,000 CEILING EQUITABLE AND PROVIDES A SOUND BASIS FOR OPEN AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

IS

SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION BILL

SOME EXPENDITURE IN EXCESS OF THE SUM APPROPRIATED FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1993/94 HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (1993/94) BILL 1994 WHICH WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE EXPENDITURE WAS CHARGED TO 67 HEADS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 83 HEADS IN THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS.

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MR

"THIS IS BECAUSE SUFFICIENT OFFSETTING SAVINGS COULD NOT BE FOUND WITHIN THE HEADS CONCERNED, THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, DONALD TSANG, SAID WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.

EXCESS IS ADJUSTMENT SUBVENTED

THE TOTAL NET SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF THE 67 HEADS OF EXPENDITURE IS $8,050.1 MILLION. THIS LARGELY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 1993 PAY IN RESPECT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.

OTHER MAJOR CONTRIBUTING FACTORS INCLUDE EXPENDITURE UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY SOCIAL SECURITY ALLOWANCE SCHEMES AND ADDITIONAL PENSION PAYMENT.

'THE

INCREASED

ASSISTANCE AND EXPENDITURE ON

/"THE COST