I am not, Sir, one who is looking forward in the not-too-distant future to a comfortable retirement in those green and pleasant lands across the sea. I want, Sir, our Jerusalem here in Hong Kong.
Now I turn to more mundane matters.
My problem here is the practical one of a speaker called upon to address himself constructively and to the complexities of our Budget some two weeks after the event. During these two weeks a great deal has already been said in comment upon my honourable Friend the Financial Secretary's proposals, some of it thoughtful and well-informed, some of it less so. But whatever its character, the sheer volume of com- ment is bound to reduce the impact, certainly, and to some extent even the value, of what can be said here and now. It was encouraging to hear that alterations to this Council's Standing Orders are under considera- tion; I hope these will result in our deliberations achieving a greater sense of immediacy because, if the public is convinced that our debates are truly meaningful, this would do much to stimulate interest in all that we discuss, and indeed that Government does.
Meanwhile, it is the present custom at this stage of the debate to comment upon the mention (or the omission) of some particular item in the Budget, and then for each Member to turn to one or other of the topics of administration which particularly interest him and for which this is an opportunity for discussion.
Once again my honourable Friend the Financial Secretary has made. the task of critical comment particularly difficult, if only by the absence of any controversial-or indeed any proposals. But it is not because of this that I take issue with him on the question of taxation. In his speech he appeared to give a number of cogent reasons for changing either the structure of our taxation system, or the rates of taxation, or both. As is always the case, my honourable Friend argued with impec- cable logic but, having done so, he appeared (not for the first time) to be unable to accept his own arguments.
I find this regrettable, to put it no stronger. As I see it, we face here essentially a problem of decision and timing, and I am sorry that the Financial Secretary did not feel able to take the decisions which he, more than anybody else, knows must be taken, and be taken soon. There can be few times or few places where an increase in taxation would have been so acceptable and would have raised so little protest. One might almost say that the Financial Secretary has been invited, on more than one occasion, to raise taxes; and this, not by irresponsible people, but by the people who would have to pay these taxes. Generally speaking, people feel there is a great deal that needs to be done. Thanks in no small part to my honourable Friend's own efforts over the years, they are aware that they cannot have something for nothing. They are willing to pay if they can see a tangible return for their