WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1975
HIGHER TAXES +INEVITABLE* SAYS MR. WILSON WANG
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FURTHER INCREASES IN TAXATION AND ON FEES AND CHARGES ARE INEVITABLE IF PLANS AND VISIONS FOR IMPROVED SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SERVICES ARE NOT TO BE JEOPARDISED, THE HON. WILSON WANG SAID DURING THE DUDGET DEBATE.
LIKE DR. S.Y. CHUNG, MR. WANG WAS CONCERNED OVER THE SOCIO-POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS THAT MIGHT FOLLOW THE CUT-BACKS IN EXPENDITURE AND HE FELT THE TIME HAD COME TO TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT THE PHILOSOPHIES AND PRINCIPLES OUTLINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WHICH MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BEARING ON FUTURE BUDGETS.
MR. WANG SERVED NOTICE THAT HE WOULD POSE SEARCHING QUESTIONS TO DEPARTMENT HEADS AT A LATER MEETING OF THE ESTIMATES COMMITTEE, AND SAID HE WOULD GIVE HIS COMMENTS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
ON REVENUE PROPOSALS.
MR. WANG FULLY AGREED THAT CLEAR CUT
IDEAS WOULD HAVE TO DE DEVELOPED ON THE VARIOUS ROLES OF THE DIFFERENT FEES AND CHARGES.
HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM LAY IN HOW TO CATEGORISE THE DIFFERENT SERVICES- AND, SINCE MOST OF THEIR FEES AND CHARGES HAVE TO DE DESIGNED WITH REFERENCE TO THE COST, HE WONDERED WHETHER THE
· GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE THE MACHINERY TO DETERMINE AND TO SHOW IN A COMPREHENSIVE MANNER, THE INDIVIDUAL COST OF EACH SERVICE FOR WHICH A FEE IS TO BE CHARGED.
+IT APPEARS OBVIOUS THAT IF WE ARE TO AVOID MISINFORMED PUBLIC REACTIONS, AND IMMATURE JUDGMENTS AT ANY TIME WHEN FEES OR CHARGES HAVE TO BE MADE. A MAJOR REFORM IN THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTING SYSTEM TO ENABLE SUCH FIGURE TO BE READILY AVAILABLE AT ANY TIME.*
AS TO GOVERNMENT SALARIES, HE SAID THE FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE TO DETERMINE THEIR COST IN CONNECTION WITH THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED. THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO ASK WHAT DO WE GET FOR THE AMOUNT SPENT?+
MR. WANG WENT ON DOES OUR SOCIETY RECEIVE VALUE FOR THE MONEY SPENT ON SALARIES AND PENSIONS AND ALL FRINGE BENEFITS FOR GOVERNMENT SERVANTS HOUSING, LEAVE AND PASSAGES, EDUCATION ALLOWANCES, MEDICAL EXPENSES?
L
→IN SHORT, WE WOULD ALSO WANT TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT ON THE COST EFFECTIVENESS AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES, IF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO PREVENT PUBLIC SPECULATION ON THESE MATTERS, THE TIME FOR THEIR COSTING WOULD BE BETTER SOONER THAN LATER.>
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