OSAKA -- The Osaka Prefectural Government on Mar. 7 presented to the prefectural assembly a bill that would cut the salaries of Gov. "Knock" Yokoyama and 4,900 other senior officials by between 2 percent and 5 percent in fiscal 1997.

The local authorities are seeking to save about 265 million yen in personnel costs through the measure, local government sources said. It would be the first pay cut by the Osaka Prefectural Government since one imposed in fiscal 1978 amid the oil crisis.

The local authorities said they have decided to seek public understanding on the Osaka government's serious financial position. According to the pay-cut plan, the governor, vice governor and treasurer will have their salaries cut by 5 percent.

Four other senior officials, including the chairman of the Personnel Commission, will have their pay cut by 3 percent. Some 4,870 department chiefs will have their pay cut by 5 percent, they said. The Osaka Prefectural Government estimates that it will have a revenue shortfall of about 200 billion yen annually from 1997 through 1999, they said.