TNAG-1725-FCO40-2438-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 71

TRENDS IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE 1983-84 TO 1991-92

Appendix B

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this appendix is to present trends in public expenditure (Consolidated Account) over the period from 1983-84 to 1991-92. It draws together the actual and forecast recurrent and capital expenditures during this nine year period and expresses them in terms of five main areas of government activity-General, Security, Economic, Community and Social (1). In this way the overall priorities for the resources of Government are identified and presented to show how they have changed since 1983–84 and how, on the basis of current plans and priorities they are likely to change over the following four years to 1991-92. The analysis therefore presents two perspectives:

Historical

an analysis of the changes in the level of expenditure on individual service groups and the balance between service groups over the last five years (1983–84 to 1987-88).

Forecast

- an analysis of the planned changes in the level of expenditure on individual service groups and the balance between service groups over the next five years (1987–88 to 1991–92). This forecast is made on the basis of current trends and commitments (2), but does not take into account new or improved services not already planned.

(1) A key to the relationship between heads of expenditure and the five service groups is provided at the end of this appendix. The analysis is expressed in Consolidated Account terms as defined in Table 4 of Appendix A and includes, for example, the expenditure of the Housing Authority, the Urban Council and the Regional Council.

(2) Planned changes take account of existing capital programmes, the recurrent consequences in terms of staffing and running costs of new capital assets once completed (e.g. a new fire station), underlying requirements for service (e.g. school populations) and service improvements either already under implementation or to be implemented as part of the 1988-89 budget proposals. They also include such major commitments as the Kowloon Walled City clearance and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

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