育教僑華買三第張四第日七初月三年戌庚展夏 VAH KIU YAT PO
報日僑華
日星日二十月四年〇七九一公年九十五國民華中
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RO英文中學會考試題預習專欄
堅道英文書院主編
經濟及公共事務科
Economic & Public Atrai
Lecture No. 23
aneware to the Exercise No.
Question (1) What do you mean by freedom of the
press? What does it imply?
Answer =
Throughout the English-speaking world, there is probably no other legal doctrine more sacredly and zealously upheld than the one under which the world of journalism flourishes, freedom of the prese', which gives the newspapers absolute freedom to orint and circulate fearlessly and liberally.
Freedon of the press ensures the complete abolition of government's censorship. In Hong Kong, for instance, there is not a Government department to check the news and the other material a newspaper wishes to publish before their publication. We must not associate the Government Information Services Department (0.1.3. aa commonly known to the news paper- men as a sort of press censor. This department does not, and will surely not, pase any sensorship on our press, for if that happens it would be a mookery to British Justice under which this freedom to publish without fear prevails.Within G.I.S. there does exist the Film Censorship Section which checks and approves films before public showing,
in a country where there is no freedom of the press, newspapers are virtually under the control of the state. No newspaper is allowed to print anything. which the government considers is likely to bring harm to it, even if it happens to be true. The government can thus, ensure that members of the publis can only know what it wants them to know. The truth 18 never revealed, and as long as this is no, the inhabitants of the
live under tyranny.
Freedom of the press has down the ages come to imply that firstly, the newspaper reserves the right to point out the faults of the government and itr officiale and to bring any irregularities in the government to the attention of the public. In a sense, the preas is the community'n 'watch-dog". "Tho press can also publish criticisms of any resident or institution so long as the privacy of either one is not intrude im doing Bo
Secondly, a newspaper is not prohibited to gain accase to sources of information that concerns public affairs, nor is it prevented from publishing opinions on public affairs. Thus the editorial of a newspaper. is given absolutë freedon to comment on a diversity of subjects that deal with the welfare of the community. Specialist writers have also been given this freedom to write on the activities, economio or political, social or educational, of the community, and by reading the articles of these writers, member of the publio can be accurately and truthfully informed of what is going on in the community, It ia abundantly clear. that without freedom of the press the newspapers are unable to fulfill one of their primary sime, and that is to inform the public.
Thirdly, a newspaper cannot be prevented fro publishing anything, e either by the intervention of the government or by an order of the court. Any legal action against a newspaper must come after the publication of the newe of opinion, and never before.
Freedom of the press also implise that the government is not permitted to introduce arbitary or excessive taxation on a newspaper, otherwise it i8 possible and very sany for the government to stop a newspaper from publishing news and opinions. A newspaper should be allowed to operate within the country just like an ordinary business enterprise, without any undus intervention from the government, In other words the newspaper should flourish under "laissez-fairs". Government can intervene or atop the newspaper from operating (through a court order if a breach of the law is caused.
Finally, freedom of the press implies that members or the general public are entitled to expreas their opinions in the newspapere. However, it does not mean that we can express opinions in any way we like, because if we can, the reputation of many citizens can be easily damaged, and can, in most cases, be damaged beyond recovery. It is therefore necessary, before a reader's letter can be printed, for the editor of the news paper to have the true name and
Question (2) How would you judge whether a aya tam
of taxation is workable and fair to all?
Answer;
In a democratic society the Government nãs the right to collect taxes from the citizens in the ease. way as the oitisans have the right to enjoy the vide variety of services and facilities provided by the government. The system of collecting taxes should, however, be devised in such a manner that it does not give rise to any unfairness or discrepancies among the citizens.
Adam Smith, an eminent political economist, contended that for any system of taxation to work fairly and efficiently, it should be based on certain principles. Today most governments are aware of Smith's principles of taxation, and wherever possible, his principles are implemented. We shall now sea how Hong Kong Government adapta ita system of taxation. from Smith's theory and see to what extent it is true that our system is workable fair and to all.
Before any judgement can be formed on the Tairness or unfairness of any syatem of taxation wo should actually see how Zar Smith's principles of taxation are applied.
It would, of course, be unfair if everyone, rich and poor, is taxed equally, for a yearly tax of say $100- to a man who earns $300 a month is a greater financial burden to him than to a man who earns #3,000 a month. Thus, a tax should be graded- relative to a citizen's earnings. Our salaries tax ia a progressive tax, no that a salariad man with." greater sarnings is taxed at a higher rate for each succeeding $5,000- and those who earn less than tha nst allowances to which they are entitled, are sxempted from salaries tax. The allowances allotted to auch taxpayer are the same, thus maintaining fairness for all.
If the way a fox is computed var298 ITOM me to. tims and from parson to person the system of taxation ia logically an unworkable one for is displays inefficiency on the part of the Administration. our taxes are based on proven methods of calculations,
A12
There are no undue complications in the way the various taxes are calculated even if they are not essy to calculate, the staffs of the Inland Revenue Department, the Rating and Valuation Department and the Public Enquiry Service, are willing and most happy to offer any assistance required by any member of the public. Thus, the second principle that the amount of tax to be paid should be definite must bo taken into consideration in judging whether BLY system of taxation is workable or not.
in Beet and the law has made it compulsory for saca employer to deduct a certain sua of his employa0 salary, to be paid to the governament in respect "of his salariem tax, thus giving rise to the wall- established system of P.A.Y.E. (Pay-as-you-aars); Thie enables a taxpayer to pay bía tax conveniently. without sausing any undue inancial embarrassment. This, in fact, is the
the third principle of taxation. In Hong Kong our Tax Reserve Certificates are a close substitute for P.A.YE, but, unfortunately, it is not compulsory for a taxpayer to buy them if he is reluctant to do so. Consequently, many taxpayers de not know of the existence of these Certificates, When presented with debit notes from the Inland Revenue Department most taxpayers are caught by surprise and find it difficult to pay their tax. Unless the Government can introduce a compulsory system of saving to enable one to pay his tax when called upon to do so, any system of taxation seldom works satisfactorily.
Exercial Fò. 23
The Trade Bulletin is published by
A. the Labour Department
E the Department of Commeras and Industry
the Chinese Manufacturers Association
Dthe Hongkong Tiger Standard
3 South
peth China Morning Fast
The productivity Centre and Council
A is organized by the Federation of Hong Kong
Industrie
Bis supervised by the Trade Development Council C is concerned with helping local manufacturers:
to reduce their production coats
D publishes the Hong Kong Annual Report
organizes the Annual Exhibition of Hong Kong Products at Hung Hoa
§
A modern trade union
A is formed by the employers for their employesa, Bonly rune insurance schomen for their members. exists to provide compensations for members injured in occupational accidents
D encourages the staging of strikes to proteat.
against low wages.y
protects the welfare of the workaro
Sects the welfa
In Hong Kong all trade unions
A are governed by the Labour Department
are governed by the Trade Union Registration Ordinance, 1961
are supervised by the Secretary for Home Affairo are advised by the City District Officers are affiliated to the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Uniona
The marginal utility of a commodity is high.
during deflation
B if the commodity has exceptional demand
when its supply is small
when ita supply is large
when there is a drop in the general level or price
7. The Governor receives advise on monetary matters
from
A
the Commissioner of Labour
the Banking Commissioner). the World Bank
the City district Officers
the Financial Secretary
A Bill of Lading
is issued by a bank to certify the amount of the loan borrowed
is issued by a shipping company to certify that
the goods have been loaded on the ship
18 a form of money used among importers and exporters
is a means of deferred payment
authorizes the importer to pay to the exporter the cost of the goods
Inflation is caused by
an abnormal decrease in the supply or currency notes
Ba change in the spending nabite of the people Ca rise in production costs
Da drop in the real National Income
E
improvements in the standard of livine
10. Plats glass insurance
i
insures against loss when large plate glası windows are damaged.
is an undertaking to compensate the insured whên hạ is injured by broken glasKON
10 an insurance against theft of large plata.
glass sont from one place tó another
is a form of personal insurance in which the pronáumu are high Ris only available to manufacturare of plate
glass.
The poor, unhealthy Children of the world are assisted by A FAVO
BW.H.O. cu.e.u.
D I.D.A.
BUNI.C.E.F.
Ferfect competition occurs when
supply and desand are equated
B demand exceeds supply:
C cupply exceeds demand
Dthe products are homogeneouUB
the products are sold at normal price
13. Konopoly
Atimulates competition
B. hinders progress
Cinoresses supply
D2 increases demand
E equates supply and demanw
14. The location of an industry is often based on
its nearness to the labour market
B the availability of land
C.
the type of goods produced
the source that supplies the capital
E the source that supplies the entrepreneurs
15. Exceptional demand ocoure
when the equilibrium price is reached
B when ostentatious goods are bought
during deflation
D in a perfect market
Ein an imperfect market
16. The sole trader enjoys
limited liability
A
B the convenience of his working hours
O the ease with which his business can expand complete independence in the control of him business
a systematic way of operating 419 business
Economics is based on
the study of the human mind
the fact that things is this world are limited in supply
the belief that the more we nave the more wa went..
the belief that the more we want the gore- we have-
Ethe principle of equal
As for equal work
18. An interest is paid on a loan
as required by law
3 because the lender is entitled to a compensation
VA
for deferring his consumption to a future datu because money is a free good
because money must grow to meet inflation at a later date
E in order to encourage more lending ana
discouraga borrowing
According to the laws or supply and demand, when the demand of a commodity is increased,
A the price will drop, and supply increases
B
the price will drop, and supply decreases
D
address of the writer, as a sign ox une writer's genuine desire to write on facta and not with the motive of whizzing trouble for everyone. Journalists', too, are aware of the seriousness that accompanies the violation of the law of libel which prevents the freedom of the press from being abused.
When we read our newspaper, we need not aver pause to dombâ if the complete truth has been reportéa, or if certain news or opinions have been intentionally withheld from publication. Unions the press in the country has been denied this freedom by which we are accurately informed of public affairs, we may think otherwise.
Uovernment intends
a pontainer port
at Kai Chung - at Cantle Peak
Cat Banton Road,
on Ting Island
E
on Lantao Island
the price will rise, and supply increames
the price will rise, and supply decreases the
price becomes equilibrium
20. A public limited company
does not issue shares through the Stook Exchange
allows the transfer of shares only on the approval of the other shareholders
is not registered with the Registrar of Companies
D has a minimum of 7 mambara
kas a maximum of 52 members
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頁四第張四第二日七初月三年戌庚腦复 WAH KIU YAT PO