WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980.
10
GOVERNMENT URGED TO REVIEW PERSONAL TAXATION ANNUALLY
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UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON LEUNG TAT-SHING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL TAXATION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
WHILE COMPLIMENTING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR HIS TIMELY MOVE+ TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN OF THE LOWER TAXABLE INCOME GROUP HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LEVELS OF THE PROPOSED TAXATION IN RESPECT OF PERSONAL, CHILD AND DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCES ARE RATHER ON THE LOW SIDE.
+THEY MAY BE BARELY ACCEPTABLE AT THE PRESENT TIME, BUT I DOUBT THEY WILL REMAIN SO FOR LONG DUE TO THE CONTINUED RAVAGES OF INFLATION.
+I SUGGEST THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW THE SITUATION AT FREQUENT INTERVALS, SAY ANNUALLY, IN ORDER TO RETAIN A PROPER PERSPECTIVE, BASED ON THE PREVAILING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.+
ON THE DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCE SCHEME, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LOWER THE AGE CRITERION FROM 60 TO 55, WHICH IS THE NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE IN HONG KONG.
+DUE TO THE AGE LIMIT OF 60 OR ABOVE, THE SCHEME HAS FAILED TO REACH MANY WHO WOULD AND SHOULD HAVE BENEFITED FROM
ITS CONCESSION.
+FOR MANY VALID REASONS, A TAX-PAYER MAY HAVE TO SUPPORT HIS PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT YET REACHED THE AGE OF 60 YEARS,+ MR LEUNG SAID.
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NEW AIRPORT ECONOMICALLY JUSTIFIABLE
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A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT SHOULD BE BUILT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SAID DR THE HON HENRY HU.
HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON THAT APART FROM BEING JUSTIFIED ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS, A NEW AIRPORT WOULD IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN KOWLOON, RELEASE LARGE AREAS OF LAND AND ENHANCE INVESTMENT CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+AS FAR AS FINANCIAL RESOURCES ARE CONCERNED, IT APPEARS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE LITTLE PROBLEM IN MEETING ITS COMMITMENT IN IMPORTANT CAPITAL PROJECTS, SUCH AS A NEW AIRPORT, ANOTHER FIXED HARBOUR CROSSING AND MORE PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS, HE SAID.
DR HU NOTED THAT THE NEED FOR MORE LAND, ROADS AND HOUSING UNITS HAS BEEN AGGRAVATED BY THE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES HONG KONG WOULD SOON BE CONFRONTED WITH THE QUESTION OF WHAT WOULD BE ITS ECONOMICALLY MANAGEABLE POPULATION.
+ THE ANSWER IN TURN DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH LAND CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.