TNAG-0453-FCO40-518-Budget-of-Hong-Kong-1974-1975-1975 — Page 15

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Ad Economorte A ADVANCE COPY

[Fien]

1095 OF 4 NOVEMBER.

this will need to be dis

ed with

G&GD and presumably FRD. In

ow refity eference

Defence Review Consultatio

make

TO ROUTINE

VOTE ON ACCOUNT

CUR PRACTICE FOR THE BUDGET DEBATE HAS BEEN TO ISSUE THE DRAFT ESTIMATES AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN MID-FEBRUARY AND FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL AT THE END OF FEBRUARY. A COMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL CONSIDERS THE DRAFT ESTIMATES AND COUNCIL DEBATES THC APPROPRIATION BILL IN MARCH WITH A VIEW TO IT BECOMING LAW BEFORE 1ST APRIL.

2. UNOFFICIALS HAVE NOW ASKED FOR MORE TIME FOR THE DEBATE ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE PRESENT PROCEDURE GIVES THEM INSUFFICIENT

CHANCE TO PREPARE. WE WOULD LIKE TO MEET THIS REQUEST.

3. WE HAVE CONCLUDED THAT, BECAUSE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED, WE COULD NOT DO SO BY PRESENTING THE

DRAFT COTIMATES AND MOVING THE APPROPRIATION BILL ANY EARLIER

THAN WE DO NOW. WE THINK THE ONLY PRACTICAL EXPEDIENT WOULD

BE TO EXTEND THE DEBATE BEYOND 1ST APRIL, WE HAVE EXAMINED

VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT COULD BE.

FINANCED TEMPORARILY IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR BEFORE THE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS VOTED THE FULL SUPPLY, WE HAVE

CONCLUDED THAT THE LEAST CONTRIVED AND MOST STRAIGHT FORWARD SOLUTION WOULD DE TO ADOPT A FORM OF THE VOTE ON ACCOUNT** PROCEDURE.

4. UNDER SUCH A PROCEDURE, WE ENVISAGE THAT, AS AT PRESENT, WE WOULD PRECENT THE DRAFT ESTIMATED IN MID-FEBRUARY AND THE

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