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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1979
HE SAID THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF VOLUNTARY ELECTION TO PERSONAL ASSESSMENT COUPLED WITH PROPERTY TAX WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ABOMINATION+ AND THIS COULD BE CONVENIENTLY COUPLED WITH THE RENTAL BASIS FOR INCOME FROM PROPERTY MENTIONED IN THE FIRST SUGGESTION,
+THE DIRECT YIELD FROM THIS MEASURE IS NOT LIKELY TO BE MUCH BUT IT WOULD HAVE THE ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGE OF ASSISTING THE DEPARTMENT IN THE DETECTION OF TAX EVASION,+ MR. GIDDY SAID.
LOOKING BACK OVER THE 17 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT, MR. GIDDY SAID THE TOTAL DEPARTMENTAL REVENUE INCREASED FROM $312 MILLION TO AN ESTIMATED $6 735 MILLION THIS YEAR, WITH THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN STAFF FROM 352 TO 2 520.
+WHICHEVER WAY ONE LOOKS AT THIS, AND, EVEN ALLOWING FOR INFLATION, THIS REPRESENTS A REMARKABLE DEGREE OF GROWTH AND MANY OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE, EDUCATION AND HOUSING FIELDS WOULD SIMPLY NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE WITHOUT IT, MR. GIDDY
SAID.
AS REGARDS THE FUTURE, MR. GIDDY SAID SOME OF THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICES HAD MOVED TO NEW PREMISES WHILE THE REST WOULD BE MOVING LATER TO FURTHER IMPROVED SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
ON THE NEVER-ENDING BATTLE AGAINST TAX EVASION, MR. GIDDY POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THE SIZE OF THE INVESTIGATION SECTION HAD MORE THAN DOUBLED AND YIELDS HAD GONE UP FROM $12 MILLION TO $40 MILLION.
HOWEVER, THERE WAS A LIMIT AT WHICH A SPECIALIST SECTION COULD BE SET UP, HE SAID.
+TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IS VITAL IN THIS FIELD AND DILETTANTISM WOULD NOT BE TOLERATED BY THE PUBLIC THERE COULD BE NOTHING WORSE FOR LONG-TERM PROGRESS THAN THE SECTION OVER- REACHING ITSELF AND FALLING FLAT ON ITS FACE,+ MR. GIDDY SAID.
→THE OTHER FACTOR WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IS THAT DETECTION, AND WHAT IS MORE IMPORTANT, THE QUANTIFICATION OF EVASION IS A LABORIOUS, TIME-CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE BUSINESS.+
NEW DIRECTOR OF TRADE ******
MR. PETER TSAO, FORMERLY THE MINISTER FOR HONG KONG AFFAIRS ATTACHED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM MISSION IN GENEVA, HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF TRADE IN THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.
MR. TSAO HAS RETURNED TO HONG KONG AND ASSUMED DUTY AS DIRECTOR OF TRADE TODAY (MONDAY).
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