1 conviction of certain officers.
4
5
6
7
8
CAP. 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
and
the highly/complex
indirect tax net, is
While the Financial
1
In contrast to separate taxation,
sensitive subject of widening the
progressing with impressive speed. Secretary has stressed both inside and outside of this
Council, that many factors remain to be considered, and he
wanted community support for this measure, within one month of his speech.ą senior officer of the Finance Branch indicated to the press that, $5 billion is expected from wholesale+tax and service+tax, and that implementation can be as early as next
April. If there is any truth in the press report, then I can
only wonder at the enthusiasm and determination shown by the
officers to push ahead on this wide-based indirect tax in the
face of considerable reservation in the community. Separate
taxation reminds me of a deprived and neglected child side-by side with the favourite son, indirect tax.<
-
I believe the Financial Secretary must exercise, and to be
seen to be exercising, fairness and objectivity in dealing
21 with separate taxation and indirect tax, regardless of
personal preferences of his advisers.
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Le.30
31
32
الله
Be
One argument against the introduction of separate taxation is
some taxpayers actually have to pay more. This can be
removed simply by giving taxpayers the option for individual taxation. A number of countries, including the United States United
Kine dom,
the UK Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and Germany, practise this approach. I believe separate taxation does not need to be mandatory for everyone, Couples should have the choice, and the benefit should be to the taxpayer.
Ber cent
33 Turning now to expenditure, The 4 growth in the size of the 34 Civil Service for 1988/89, in terms of headcounts, means over
35
7,000 additional staff. This increase, even though warranted, 36 cannot be taken lightly, nor should it be allowed as a