HONG KONG DIRECTIVE.
FIRST DRAFT.
164
Finance.
1.
The pre-occupation financial system will be revived and
it is the intention to re-establish budgetary control and
estimating in accordance with Colonial Regulations as soon as
the situation permits.
2. The general aim of financial policy will be to distribute
the burden of taxation, required for the purposes of the community,
among the community according to its ability to pay.
3. Revenue will be collected in accordance with the legislation
3 in force at the date of the enemy occupation.
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4. Hong Kong will remain a free port with the exception of
the pre-war import duties on alcoholic liquors, motor spirit and
tobacco.
5. It may be assumed that some measure of Imperial preference
will be preserved, the pre-war preferences on Empire produced
tobacco, brandy and motor vehicles will therefore be maintained
unless otherwise ordered by His Majesty's Government.
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to
6. The Government opium monopoly will not be restored.
77. Until consideration can be given to the introduction of
Income Tax the Salary and Business Tax legislation should be
revived as soon as possible as an interim measure.
8.
It will be the policy to re-instate in the Government
service confirmed members of the Government establishments who
are medically fit except in cases of individual misconduct
during the Japanese occupation, All employees who escaped after
the hostilities to Allied territory have already, if no alternative
employment in the Colonial Service could be found for them, been
given notice of the abolition of their posts and granted arrears
of pay and pension according to their terms of service and other
factors. Analogous treatment will be given, after due investigation
to those employees who remained free in Hong Kong, provided their
conduct after the Japanese occupation was satisfactory.
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Re-engagement of officers granted abolition pensions will be in
accordance with Pension Regulations.
/9.