TNAG-1729-FCO40-2442-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 101

SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 1988

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

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One of the most prominent features of the Budget

presented by the Financial Secretary on 2 March was the

significant increase in the resources devoted to social

services, both in absolute terms and as a proportion of

total expenditure. The medical services' share of the

total budget rose from 9.4 last year to 9.7 in the

current year, while welfare spending (including social

security) rose from 5.78 to 6.38) As the Financial

Secretary pointed out there are reasons why the increases

are particularly sharp this year, but they are part of a

continuing trend which is expected to result in medical

expenditure reaching 10.9% of the total budget by 1991-92, cice and welfare spending reaching 7.18 in the same year.

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Most members who spoke on these issues welcomed

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the increased allocation of funds, but Mr. Ngai Shiu-kit

warned that Hong Kong should avoid becoming a welfare society; in his view it should be the government's aim to facilitate the development of trade and industry so that

each citizen can create his own wealth. I am sure that we

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would all agree with this, but I am glad that he also

recognises that the government must provide for those

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citizens, who, through no fault of their own whether because