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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
Before I resume my seat, I wish to make a few comments on Government's intention to charge new rates based on a fantastically increased re-assessment. "Crazy" is the only word to describe this so-called "art" of assessment and "robbery" is the only description for Government's intention.
Firstly, I query whether collecting such a huge sum from the general public is either necessary or timely. Our financial situation is sound and our economy started to recover only late last year and already we see signs of slowing down and we do need a moment to get our second wind.
Secondly, even if it were time for a re-assessment, I can hardly imagine any clear-minded person agreeing that in a short three years rateable values have jumped an average of 80% and in many cases many times more.
Thirdly, if Government could justify its intention in collecting extra large sums in revenue, why did it not think of raising the ceiling for Company Tax and Personal Income Tax, which would affect only those with substantial earnings, while the rates have to be shared by everyone and the less privileged will suffer the most.
I was indeed distressed to hear from my elected colleagues suggestions for a reduction in this Council's share of the rates when the root of the whole issue is, we all know, a totally unreasonable new assessment and this Council is merely an innocent beneficiary of a daylight robbery.
Although I realize the election is only a few months ahead and interested parties are anxious to grab at any straw to attract votes, we must not forget that the Council has never enjoyed over-allocation of public fund and in fact, proportionally, we are collecting much less than in 1973 while the rates have increased from 15% to 18%, our share remains unchanged at 6%. Furthermore, three-quarters of our expenditure goes on U.S.D. staff salaries. Therefore, we must not agree to any cut without a very good reason.
As we are all undoubtedly aware, rates furnish the essential financial resource of local authorities all over the world, with Hong Kong the sole exception in that this Council is allocated only one-third of the rates collectable. I can see no circumstances under which a responsible member of the Council could suggest a cut as this would only mean that we should be able to provide less service to the public.
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In my view, the only sensible way to protect the interests of the general public is to protest against and firmly object to the monstrous act of the Government's new assessment policy and this Council must not and need not be dragged into this struggle.
With these remarks, I second the motion.
MR. PETER P. F. CHAN (in English): - Mr. Chairman, this year you have made two statements, one on the 11th May, and the other on the 8th June, covering the Council's responsibility on Abattoirs and Markets. You have so efficiently covered all the grounds that I, as the Chairman of the Markets and Abattoirs Select Committee, find myself having hardly any further comments to make, especially when the Select Committee had introduced no particular changes in the statement of aims for both Abattoirs and Markets for the coming year.
The two Abattoirs controlled and administered by the Urban Council are in fact two processing factories with a further factory for manufacturing by-products. All these have been run very efficiently in the past year meeting our objectives with forward planning exactly as scheduled. Every member of the community has their daily requirements of quivering and fresh meat free from contamination of whatsoever kind as a matter of course. I presume very few of them realize that it is the work of Urban Council and even for those who understand it is the work of the Urban Council, few would realize that we spent about $37 million in a year involving the work of an army of 1,500 personnel with a total personal emolument of $24 million. We sustained an annual deficit of $10 million in the financial year 1975-76 for the supply of this hot and quivering meat to the community.
Members of the public seldom realize that the process of slaughtering is a complicated exercise. Slaughtering is accompanied by dressing in separate and different lines so as to prevent cross-contamination of one carcass by another and under hygienic conditions meeting high hygienic standards. The process of dressing is also accompanied by inspection and this inspection must be carried out by fully-qualified staff. After the slaughtering and dressing, attempts must be made to enable the hot and quivering meat to be delivered to the right places and at the right moment.
The local Chinese population has a very strong preference for this kind of meat. Therefore, fresh meat plays and will play a very important part in the local diet. Looking ahead to the future, it is predicted that allowing for stable social and political conditions
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