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Pearl River Delta in particular and how specifically to fulfil its function. Secondly, as a result of the fact that economic development strategy would have different effect on labour in different trades,
labour should rank among the highest considerations in working out a
reasonable and healthy economic strategy between Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta in particular and ensure that labour will benefit from the cooperation and there will not be any loss on their part.
Now I would like to talk about taxation. [First, on separate taxation for married couples. In last year's Budget Debate I mentioned that married couples should have the opportunity to choose whether to pay tax individually or jointly, because forced joint assessment is unfair to middle-income families. This year, the Financial Secretary has
Kiche proposed a reintroduction of Working Waves Allowance as a response. P 15 In analysing the situation I found that there will be different effects
on different strata from separate taxation or with or without the
Kite
wife Working Wives Allowance. If there is only the Working Wives Allowance, then families, or husbands and wives with similar salaries exceeding
$5,000 a month will be worse off and the tax will be still greater
than two single persons with the same salary. It would still be unfair.
Wile However, if we have separate taxation but no Working Wives Allowance, then it would be disadvantageous to husbands and wives, whose salaries are less than $5,000, than couples whose salaries differ to a great
degree. They will not be able to benefit from separate tax.
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Such
wives mainly come from the manufacturing and service sectors. [In
fact, separate taxation and the Working Wife Allowance are different in nature. The purpose of the separate tax is to change an unjust and unfair system of taxation to avoid payment of more tax simply because one gets married and to change discrimination against women.
will 30 Whereas, the intention of introducing a Working Wives Allowance is to 31 encourage married women to seek employment in recognition that an
increased expenditure is necessary as a result of marriage. part of the expenditure should be exempt from tax similar to the expenditures spent on children and dependant parents. Therefore, I support the proposal by some unions that couples should be able freely choose between individual and joint assessment. If it is a
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Therefore,
to