PRESS REVIEW
KECE
N. 52
ON
= 3 APR 1975
IKK 10/1
19-21.3:75-
"If employers cannot afford these contributions, they can dismiss staff and reduce salary payments. Dr. Chung has not considered whether the number of those unemployed will be increased because of this,"
believed (21.3.75).
Special lottery for public housing
A suggestion by the Hon. Roger Lobo on a special "housing lottery!! (a form of home ownership scheme in housing estates) met with strong objection from Oriental Daily (20.3.75) and Kung Sheung Evening News (21.3.75)
"Is It not ridiculous that the people have to try their luck at gambling when what they want is to live in a public housing estate?" Oriental Daily said.
Kung Sheung Evening News described the suggestion as "meaningless",
"The Government should solve the housing problem step by step according to a plan," contended the paper.
"Is it really necessary to introduce yet a new form of gambling when we have so many kinds already?!! it asked.
Other suggestions of the Unofficials
Kung Sheung Evening News (22.3.75) and the communist Ta Kung Pao (23.3.75) supported the proposal by the Hon. Hilton Cheong-Leen that the Government should consider re-instating the tax allowance for, dependent parents.
Kung Sheung Evening News said that it was "reasonable" to re-instate this allowance.
Ta Kung Pao added that "not only should this allowance be re-introduced, but personal allowance should also be raised".
Hong Kong Times (21.3.75) referred to the Hon. Joyce Symons's call for a review of the policy on school fee remissions and said that it was the responsibility of the Government to provide free education to the people.
I'
"If these remissions were cancelled, a great burden would be placed on families with many children," the paper stressed.
JO
Defence Costs
In a joint statement last week, the British Ministry of Defence and the Hong Kong Government announced a 15 per cent cutback in the garrison here. About 500 local personnel in the British services, about 200 locally enlisted soldiers and 300 civilians will get the axe as part of the move to reduce the size of the garrison. At the same time it was reported that despite the cutback, Hong Kong's contributions to its upkeep would go up to a large extend.