XN000022-1996-03-01 — Page 6

- 5.

a new health centre for women

a new renal dialysis centre

a new adolescent care centre

a new child assessment centre

a new school dental clinic

4 additional specialist medical teams to provide medical and psychiatric care for 15.000 elderly patients a year

2 additional rehabilitation co-ordination teams for the chronically ill

and extension of the student health service to secondary students

On education, the Government recurrent spending will grow to $34.5 billion.

"This increased spending is despite a declining school age population (the number of children in the 6-14 age group is estimated to drop from 721,700 in 1995- 96 to 712,200 in 1996-97).

"We will therefore be able to make further improvements in pupil teacher ratios and class sizes in primary schools, provide for 300 additional graduate teachers in primary schools and enhance support for Band 5 students," said Mr Kwong.

For a better environment, the Government recurrent spending will increase to $2.6 billion.

"This will provide extra staff to implement air quality improvement programmes and additional resources for the proper disposal of waste."

For the tight against crime the Government will be providing:

227 additional posts for the police to strengthen anti-triad work

37 posts for customs and excise to tackle the illicit use of diesel oil and for enhancing the protection of intellectual property rights.

"These impressive improvements in services are all made possible by our continuing economic growth. Sustained economic growth will permit continued improvements in services in the future." he said.

End