Wednesday, March 13, 1974
UNOFFICIALS SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE
Mr. Woo Calls For Counter Measures Against Inflation
Unofficial members of the Legislative Council are strongly
against any scaling down of the social targets set in the fields of
education, housing, social welfare and other community services, despite
the difficulties involved in raising the huge sum to pay for them.
"We remain committed to programmes which will provide a better
life for all in the 1980s," the Senior Unofficial Member, the Hon. Woo
Pak-chuen, stressed during the resumed Budget debate today.
"It is an enormously expensive programme," he added, "but to
turn back now because of inflation and other difficulties would be an
admission of defeat,"
Ho pointed out that new sources of revenue would have to be
found to meet the targets, but he and his unofficial colleagues disagreed
with the Financial Secretary that the money should be raised by increasing
the rate of direct ta..0100-
"We do not believe that an increase in direct taxation is the
right way,
tT
I said Mr. Woo.
When the time came to look for new sources of revenue, the unofficials
favoured indirect taxation and a system which would share the burden equitably
among those more readily able to bear the cost.
We must