XN000022-1994-09-07 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1994

GOVT ACCEPTS COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS

ON REMUNERATION FOR LEGCO MEMBERS

THE ADMINISTRATION HAS ACCEPTED ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION ON REMUNERATION FOR MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE COMMISSION CONSIDERS THAT THE PRESENT LEVEL OF REMUNERATION FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (LEGCO) MEMBERS IS REASONABLE AND THAT IT ENABLES PEOPLE FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM OF SOCIETY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AS LEGCO MEMBERS. IT HAS THEREFORE RECOMMENDED NO CHANGE IN THE LEVEL OF REMUNERATION.

TO ENABLE DIRECTLY ELECTED LEGCO MEMBERS TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE CONNECTION WITH THE DISTRICT THEY REPRESENT, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT AN ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE OF UP TO $10,000 PER MONTH SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THEM IN ESTABLISHING AN OFFICE IN THEIR CONSTITUENCY.

AND

IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENHANCING THE ACCOUNTABILITY TRANSPARENCY OF LEGCO MEMBERS IN THE USE OF THEIR ALLOWANCES, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT MEMBERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE IN THEIR CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT, WHICH SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION, THE NAMES AND SALARIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS THEY EMPLOY.

THEY WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO HAND OVER TO THE LEGCO SECRETARIAT CAPITALISED ITEMS PURCHASED WITH THEIR ALLOWANCES WHEN THEY VACATE THEIR SEATS.

"WE SHALL SEEK APPROVAL FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN OCTOBER FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PACKAGE OF REMUNERATION AND ALLOWANCES RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMISSION," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

IN ADDITION TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE LEVEL OF REMUNERATION FOR LEGCO MEMBERS, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO CONDUCT PERIODIC REVIEWS ON THE LEVEL AND SCOPE OF THE REMUNERATION PACKAGE AND ADVISE ON THE INTERPRETATION OF GUIDELINES FOR THE USE OF THE ALLOWANCES BY MEMBERS.

"WE

SHALL ANNOUNCE THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROPOSED

"

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COMMISSION

THE CURRENT REMUNERATION PACKAGE, WHICH COMPRISES A MONTHLY HONORARIUM OF $43,250 ( (AS ADJUSTED IN OCTOBER 1993) AND A GENERAL EXPENSES ALLOWANCE OF $73,000, WAS APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN MAY 1993.

AT THAT TIME, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE LEVEL OF REMUNERATION FOR LEGCO MEMBERS. SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MANY LEGCO MEMBERS URGED THAT AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION SHOULD BE SET UP TO REVIEW THE REMUNERATION PAID TO LEGCO MEMBERS.

IN JULY 1993, THE GOVERNOR APPOINTED AN INDEPENDENT TO REVIEW THE REMUNERATION PACKAGE FOR LEGCO MEMBERS.

COMMISSION

/THE COMMISSION