TNAG-1727-FCO40-2440-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 133

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Sir, this is the

last time that I speak as the last Member in this

Council, but I can see that the pressure on me is

very great because if I cannot handle the situation carefully, many people will feel very unhappy,

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Mr. POON Chi-fai (in Cantonese):

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speak fastly,

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those who

to atleast

particularly when we have a dinner banquet toll congratulate the newly-wed couple.

Sell try to

10 [sir, I think the drawing-up of the Budget is the

Financial Secretary's most important (job and headache

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each year.

He has to balance different demands for

and revenue and expenditure, He has to create bright prospects for Hong Kong as well. The current Budget not only proposes tax concessions to reduce the burden on residents, but also increased spending on social and medical services to improve existing services. This Budget should be welcomed by the public.

Nevertheless, I have the following comments

on the Budget.

Cap 22 First, Broblems faced by Hong Kong industries.

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Hong

Kong enjoyed significant economic growth in the past three years. Surpluses were $3 billion last year, and more than $10 billion this year and the forecast for next year will be $7.3 billion. But we cannot be optimistic about whether Hong Kong can sustain economic prosperity forever. In fact, the Financial Secretary has pointed out in the Budget that there are signs of

a

slow down in the local economy. Although Hong Kong ́is

having an economic boom, the shortage of labour has

become a potential problem of our economic development. NP 33 All along Hong Kong has relied too much on labour-

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intensive industries. The shortage of labour makes it difficult to hire workers, deflecting some orders to

other places forever. The shortage of labour is also

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