| Recurrent public expenditure is expected to grow by $16,730 million,
or 7.3% in real terms over the revised estimate for 2000-01. Within this
overall growth, recurrent government expenditure will increase by
$16,365 million, or 7.9% in real terms over the revised estimate for 2000-01.
This level of year-on-year growth in recurrent government expenditure is
partly attributable to expenditure in 2000-01 being lower than the original
estimate, reflecting significant efforts on the part of Controlling Officers
to control costs. Recurrent government expenditure in 2001-02, excluding
expenditure which is one-off in nature under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme
and the Voluntary Departure Scheme introduced in 2000-01, is planned to
increase by 2.5% in real terms over the original estimate for 2000-01.
Including the expenditure under the aforesaid schemes, the overall growth in
recurrent government expenditure over the original estimate for 2000-01 will
be $9,435 million, or 4.05% in real terms. The major improvements in services in 2001-02 in the Education,
Health,
Security and Social Welfare
policy area groups are detailed on Growth
in Recurrent Public Expenditure in 2001-02 in Major Policy Area Groups.
The significant changes in recurrent public expenditure in
other policy area groups are:
Community and External Affairs (+$755 million)
The increase reflects the additional provision on district and community
relations; management of more major recreation, culture and amenities
facilities; and promoting effective building management to enhance the safety
and standard of maintenance of private multi-storey buildings.
Economic (+$1,230 million)
The increase mainly arises from the provision of recurrent funding to the
Employees Retraining Board for providing quality retraining to our workforce,
enabling it to acquire new or enhanced vocational skills and to adjust to
changes in the employment market.
Environment and Food (+$605 million)
The increase reflects additional spending on improving air quality, on
monitoring food safety and on programmes to keep Hong Kong clean.
Housing (+$415 million)
The increase reflects additional recurrent expenditure of the Housing
Authority.
Infrastructure (+$1,285 million)
The increase mainly arises from additional spending on removal of unauthorised
building works and structures, inspection and enforcement of safety in
composite buildings, introduction of a registration scheme for the control of
advertisement signboards, planning of the new railway projects embodied in
Railway Development Strategy 2000, improvement on the management of transport
services in respect of public transport interchanges, and maintenance of
government slopes.
Support (+$4,500 million)
The increase arises mainly from pension payments under the Voluntary
Retirement Scheme and the Voluntary Departure Scheme implemented in 2000-01 to
facilitate efforts to enhance public sector productivity and increase private
sector participation in the delivery of public services, and from additional
expenses for the 2001 Population Census. |
