TNAG-1724-FCO40-2437-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 47

7.

Mr.LAU (in Cantonese):

Sir, regarding the expenditure in

public facilities, it is usually based on the population size.

In the New Territories, it is a very large area and therefore

the population is very scattered and if we do it on that basis,

is it really suitable for the New Territories ? So will the

Administration consider having alternative arrangements ?

Secretary for Lands and Works: Sir, it is quite impossible

to plan expenditure in the New Territories on a population

basis. It is only possible to see what works can be done

within the kind of limits of the votes involved and what

improvements they will make to the rural areas and that is

the method by which we proceed.