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Wednesday, March 29, 1972
PROPOSED CHARGE ON UNOCCUPIED PREMISES
Financial Secretary Accepts Case For Initial Free Period
The Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave gave an
assurance today that points raised by the Unofficial Members on the proposed
charge on unoccupied premises would be given careful consideration.
Three Unofficial Members
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the Hon. Mrs. Ellen Li, the Hon. Q.W. Lee and
the Hon. P.C. Woo - had made several points relating to the implementation of the
proposed charge.
Speaking at the resumed Budget Debate in the Legislative Council,
Mr. Haddon-Cave said: "Their points will be given careful consideration
when the necessary amending legislation is being drafted later this year.
"It will suffice to say now that I accept the case for an initial
free period following the issue of an occupation permit.'
On Mr. P.C. Woo's suggestion that the funeral expenses allowed
as a deduction before determining the value of a dutiable estate should
be increased to take account of present day costs, the Financial Secretary
said: it was an accepted principle that reasonable funeral expenses should
be allowed,but he proposed to increase the allowance from $2,000 to $5,000
instead of the $4,000, suggested.
The Financial Secretary, however, did not agree with the Unofficial
Members' view that the proposal to abolish duty on heavy oils be extended
to cover oils consumed by the power companies on the principle that the
indirect tax system should not inflate costs,
Mr. Haddon-Cave
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