NP

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Cp3

Capt

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The introduction of working wife allowance is used as a

smokescreen to shelve the public's strong demand for another

two years.

صنف

why do I say that the introduction of the working wife wives allowance is smoke/screen? A smoke screen will

smoke/screen

wis2

disperse eventually and the workingfwive allowance can

any time always be withdrawn Did we not have a working wife allowance before? It was withdrawn shortly after implementation. This is already a precedent.

3

£

But this will not be the case for separate taxation. It would

مه

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not be as easy to withdraw the system once introduced.

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This

is the crux of the whole issue, and not reasons such as: 'The

question needs to be

further considered'; 'the subject is complex'; or, 'it.. is difficult to implement':eter help but wonder, when the newly introduced working wife

allowance will again be withdrawn.

and so on.

I can't

Some may ask: Am I not making a mountain out of a molehill?

fussing about trivialities as if they are vital issues, by

20 casting a a dissenting vote against the entire Budget just because of the simple question of separate taxation? But I feel that from another point of view, this is not something

trivial. It: is, by itself, truly, and indeed, a vital issue. 24 Separate taxation has long been a strong demand of the public. On this question, the unofficials of the Legislative Council

have truthfully reflected public opinion and we have reached a 27 consensus within the in-house meeting and lend our unanimous

28 support to the demand.

2 2 2 2 2.

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be

taxatum.

also

Sc 30 Yesterday, I learnt that Mr. Andrew WONG objected to the idea

* 31 of separate taxation

excluded when I said that we reached a consensus within the in-house meeting. The Government has deliberately turned a 34 deaffear to the consensus of the unofficials, and totally 35 disregarded the strong and long-standing public demand 36 unanimously supported by the unofficials.

DX So perhaps Mr. Andrew WONG should be

Is this trivial?

сер

сар

Cannot

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