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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974
PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974 PASSED
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AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG EXPRESSED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' CONCERN OVER THE USE OF THE POWERS GIVEN BY THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1974, HE SAID THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE WAS TO PROTECT THE GOVERNMENT FROM LOSS OF REVENUE AND NO OTHER.
+IT WAS NEVER INTENDED THAT IT SHOULD BE USED EITHER FOR PRE-EMPTING THE DECISIONS OF THIS COUNCIL ON PROPOSED CHANGES IN RATES OF TAX, OR FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE AUTHORITIES ENTRUSTED WITH THE DUTIES OF REVENUE COLLECTION.
HE WAS REFERRING TO THE ORDERS MADE LAST FEBRUARY BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO CHANGES IN RATES OF DUTY AS REGARDS LIQUOR AND TOBACCO, AND IN THE RATE OF THE FIRST REGISTRATION TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES.
HE SAID: THE USE OF THE ORDINANCE FOR INCREASES IN SUCH DUTIES AND TAX WAS, OF COURSE, AMPLY WITHIN THE OBJECT OF THE ORDINANCE.
+BUT DOUBTLESS INSPIRED BY THE HON. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HIS EXCELLENCY AT THE SAME TIME MADE ORDERS UNDER THE ORDINANCE IN RESPECT OF THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE OF VEHICLES, THE ANNUAL RATES ON TENEMENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE ANNUAL FEES FOR BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES.+
TAX CHANGES OF THAT KIND, HE SAID, OUGHT NOT TO BE MADE UNTIL PROPOSALS TO CHANGE THEM HAD BEEN DEBATED AND DECIDED UPON IN THIS COUNCIL.
HE SAID THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WOULD NOT FIND IT POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT USE OF THE ORDINANCE IN RELATION TO ANNUAL TAXES OF THIS KIND.
MR. CHEUNG SAID HE WAS ASKED BY THE UNOFFICIALS TO SEEK AN ASSURANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING THE REVENUE.
THE BILL WENT THROUGH THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND WAS PASSED.
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