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THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1979
+OVER-DRASTIC ADJUSTMENTS ON THE WHOLE MIGHT PRODUCE MORE SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS, BUT FOR CERTAIN TRADES AND INDIVIDUALS, IMMEDIATE ADAPTATION TO THE CHANGES IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE,+ HE SAID.
MR. WONG SUPPORTED THE BUDGET FOR THE CONSIDERATION IT HAS GIVEN TO THE MIDDLE-INCOME GROUP - THEY ARE TO BE ALLOWED SOME CONCESSION IN TAXATION- LARGE SUMS OF MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, AND THE INCOME CEILING FOR APPLICATIONS UNDER THE SCHEME IS TO BE RAISED.
HE WELCOMED ALL THESE MEASURES BECAUSE THEY WILL EFFECTIVELY IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARD OF THE MIDDLE-INCOME GROUP AND DIRECTLY BENEFIT THEM.
MR. WONG WAS, HOWEVER, CONCERNED ABOUT THE LARGE INCREASE IN ESTIMATED GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE NEXT YEAR, TO SOME $12,400 MILLION OR ABOUT 21 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR'S ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE OF $10,200 MILLION.
LAST YEAR'S ESTIMATE WAS ITSELF EXCEEDED BY ACTUAL EXPENDITURE OF SOME $11,100 MILLION BY NINE PER CENT.
+DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE EVER-INCREASING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE HAS SOMEHOW BEEN OFFSET BY A MODERATE GROWTH IN OUR ECONOMY AND PUBLIC REVENUE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE THEIR PARTICULAR TENDENCY INTO CONSIDERATION AND CAREFULLY REVIEW ITS POLICY AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED THAT ONE REASON FOR THE BIG INCREASE IS THE SHARP RISE IN THE NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVANTS, NEXT YEAR, THE NUMBER WILL STILL BE CONSIDERABLY INCREASED BY 7,500.
HE WONDERED WHETHER THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE IS REALLY NECESSARY AND CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE FULL USE OF ITS MANPOWER RESOURCES BY RAISING EFFICIENCY AND IMPROVING MANAGEMENT METHODS.
CALL TO ABOLISH DUTY ON LOCAL CHINESE LIQUOR
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE APPRECIATED BY THE LEAST PRIVILEGED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IF IT WOULD ABOLISH DUTY ON LOCALLY PRODUCED CHINESE SPIRITS, THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID A MODERATE CONSUMPTION OF LIQUOR IS ONE OF THE FEW REWARDS WORKERS ENJOY AFTER A HARD DAY'S WORK.
HE DID NOT BELIEVE ABOLITION OF DUTY WILL LEAD TO EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION. BESIDES, HE SAID, IT SHOULD MAKE IT UNPROFITABLE TO OPERATE ILLEGAL DISTILLERIES.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SUFFER NO GREAT LOSS OF REVENUE, HE POINTED OUT. THE TOTAL QUANTITY OF CHINESE SPIRITS CONSUMED OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, 1976-78, AMOUNTED TO JUST OVER 12.4 MILLION IMPERIAL GALLONS, BRINGING IN TOTAL REVENUE OF JUST UNDER $140 MILLION.