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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981
+THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER TAKING MORE RADICAL AND INNOVATIVE MEASURES, OR EVEN DO AWAY WITH THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH, TO SEEK NEW ARRANGEMENTS TO HELP THE SANDWICHED CLASS SOLVE THEIR HOUSING PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.
ON SERVICES FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, MR WONG URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCELERATE THE EXPANSION OF SUCH SERVICES WHERE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS PERMIT.
+FOR INSTANCE, CAN THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER RELAXING THE PRESENT CRITERIA IN RESPECT OF THE ELIGIBILITY FOR DISABILITY ALLOWANCE?
+COULD WE NOT SPEED UP THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOMES FOR THE AGED AND THE EXPANSION OF THE HOME HELP SERVICE SCHEME?
+AND ON THE SUBJECT OF REHABUS SCHEME, IS THE GOVERNMENT GENEROUS ENOUGH IN ITS PRESENT POLICY?+ MR ́WONG ASKED.
ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS LAID DOWN AN OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THESE SERVICES IN ITS VARIOUS WHITE PAPERS, HE BELIEVED THE GOVERNMENT, UNDER THE PRESENT FAVOURABLE SITUATION, IS CAPABLE OF IMPLEMENTING THEM MORE EXPEDITIOUSLY AND GENEROUSLY SO THAT THE UNFORTUNATE GROUP MAY BENEFIT FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S AFFLUENCE.
MR WONG ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE INTRODUCTION OF SEPARATE ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION FOR MARRIED COUPLES.
HE THOUGHT THE ARGUMENT PUT FORWARD BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO HIS PROPOSAL ON THE SUBJECT LAST YEAR WAS NOT VERY CONVINCING.
UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF COMBINED ASSESSMENT, IT IS ESSENTIALLY THE MIDDLE-INCOME GROUP THAT SUFFERS, HE SAID.
+THOSE AT THE HIGHER OR LOWER ENDS OF THE INCOME SCALE ARE NOT AFFECTED, OR ONLY TO A VERY SMALL EXTENT.
+S INCE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS EVERY INTENTION TO MAKE THE TAX SYSTEM FAIR TO ALL CLASSES OF TAXPAYERS, I BELIEVE THAT RE-CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE IS NECESSARY, HE ADDED.
LONG TERM POLICY ON GOVT OFFICE SPACE NEEDED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FORMULATE A LONG-TERM POLICY AIMED AT THE OPTIMUM PROVISION OF ITS OWN OFFICE PREMISES WITHIN A DEFINITE TIME SCHEDULE.
THIS WAS SUGGESTED BY THE HON PETER C. WONG AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE PROVIDE $550 MILLION FOR RENTS AND FITTING OUT OF PREMISES, THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN TO SHOW THE AMOUNT FOR LEASED OFFICE ACCOMMODATION OR FOR RENTED QUARTERS.
/+THE GOVERNMENT