THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1980
6
TURNING TO PERSONAL TAXATION, MR WONG SAID HE DID NOT INTEND TO REQUEST THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO REVIEW THE PROPOSED INCREASE.
WHILE CONCEDING THE INCREASE IS INCOMMENSURATE WITH THE RATE OF INFLATION OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, HE POINTED OUT THAT AS THE TOP PLATFORM OF TAX WAS LOWERED FROM 30 PER CENT TO 25 PER CENT LAST YEAR, THE PRESENT INCREASE IN PERSONAL ALLOWANCE IS ACTUALLY HIGHER THAN THE APPARENT 50 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH SIX YEARS AGO.
+HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVISE THE ALLOWANCE CORRESPONDINGLY IN THE LIGHT OF THE ANNUAL RATE OF INFLATION EVERY YEAR INSTEAD OF REVIEWING AND REVISING IT ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS.+
MR WONG ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE THE CHILD ALLOWANCE ON THE FIRST TWO CHILDREN BUT NOT FOR THE THIRD CHILD AND THE CHILDREN THEREAFTER BECAUSE +SUCH A MOVE MAY UNINTENTIONALLY ENCOURAGE THE BIRTH RATE+.
TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS ON TEXTILES WITH USA DELEGATION ******
A UNITED STATES DELEGATION, HEADED BY MR DONALD MCCONVILLE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF TEXTILES, STATE DEPARTMENT, WILL BE IN HONG KONG NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (APRIL 1-2) FOR TALKS.
MR PETER TSAO, DIRECTOR OF TRADE OF THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY), THE DELEGATION WAS HERE TO DISCUSS A NUMBER OF TECHNICAL MATTERS ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE US/HK TEXTILE AGREEMENT.
MR MCCONVILLE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER USA AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE COMMERCE AND LABOUR DEPARTMENTS.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL BE HEADED BY MR JUSTIN YUE, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO HELP SET UP
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY COMMITTEES
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP SET UP JOINT SAFETY COMMITTEES IN FACTORIES AND BUILDING SITES AS A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO PREVENT INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, SAID DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI.
HE SAID THE COMMITTEES' MAIN FUNCTIONS WOULD BE TO ENSURE IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY LEGISLATION, TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE AND TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE EXISTING REGULATIONS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
/ALARMED BY