TNAG-1361-FCO40-1807-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 71

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may, with this difference of $52 million, increase/delete the

This is number or ranks of posts in his department in 1985-86. noteworthy. Although the amount, at a little over $50 million, accounts for only about 3% of the total expenditure on personal emoluments of the entire Force, it is in itself a considerable sum of money, representing a great proportion or even the whole of the total expenditure of some smaller departments, or 5% of the $1 billion deficit. Furthermore, once the size of a department is expanded or posts upgraded, it not only affects the expenditure on personal emoluments for the current financial year but subsequent years as well. I do not mean at all to pinpoint the Royal Hong Kong Police Force and I understand the importance of maintaining law and order. However, at a time when frugality is rigorously pursued, any priviledged treatment enjoyed by a particular department will be unfair to other departments and a blow to staff morale generally. This is a matter concerning the whole civil service rather than one single department. In view of this, I think the Government should take this matter of preferential treatment seriously so that small departments can get the necessary staff increase while the big ones are less likely to expand unnecessarily.

(2) Housing Policy

Rents

I am pleased that our Government is still vigorously building public housing and Home Ownership Scheme flats. and prices of private sector housing in Hong Kong are in fact still very high. To the lower and middle income groups, being able to live in public housing or to purchase HOS flats is as good as hitting a jackpot. The financial benefits so gained are beyond comparison with those not having public housing or HOS flats. The provision of public housing or HOS flats has a direct bearing on the quality of life of the lower and middle

income groups.

Therefore, the Government's policy should be aimed at enabling the maximum number of people to live in public housing or to have the opportunity to purchase HOS