15
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1981
MR STEAN POINTED OUT THAT STREET NAME PLATES WERE INSPECTED AND MAINTAINED AS PART OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME FOR PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
AS REGARDS THE NUMBERING OF BUILDINGS, HE SAID: +THE AUTHOR ITY FOR HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND NEW KOWLOON IS THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION- THE AUTHORITY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF NUMBERS ON BUILDINGS RESTS WITH INDIVIDUAL OWNERS.
MR STEAN SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN ADVISED THAT THE AUTHORITIES ENSURE THAT EACH NEW BUILDING IS NUMBERED ON COMPLETION AND THAT, AS RESOURCES PERMIT THEY ENDEAVOUR TO ENSURE THAT HOUSE NUMBERS ARE MAINTAINED.+
+PER IODICALLY, CAMPAIGNS ARE MOUNTED TO ENCOURAGE BUILDING OWNERS TO MAINTAIN THE NUMBERING OF THEIR BUILDINGS AND I AM ADVISED THAT THE NEXT CAMPAIGN WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR, HE ADDED.
$1 MILLION DEATH DUTY EXEMPTION PROPOSED
*****
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, PROPOSED THAT THE CEILING AT WHICH DUTY ON ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS BECOME PAYABLE BE LIFTED FROM THE FIGURE OF $600 000 OF LAST YEAR, TO $1 MILLION, HAVING REGARD IN PARTICULAR TO PREVAILING PROPERTY PRICES+.
THIS WOULD COST THE REVENUE ABOUT $13 MILLION IN 1981-82 AND ABOUT $17 MILLION IN 1982-83, HE POINTED OUT.
THE SUM WOULD BE LESS FOR 1981-82 BECAUSE THE INCREASED EXEMPTION WOULD NOT APPLY TO ESTATES OF PERSONS DYING BEFORE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
HE ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THREE +RELATIVELY MINOR+ AMENDMENTS TO THE ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE:
* TO PROVIDE FOR A SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR THE
PROCESSING OF SMALL ESTATES WHEREBY, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE ESTATE DUTY COMMISSIONER IS EMPOWERED TO EXEMPT EXECUTORS FROM THE NEED TO DELIVER SWORN AFFIDAVITS FOR ALL PROPERTY IN RESPECT OF WHICH ESTATE DUTY IS PAYABLE UPON DEATH-
X TO ENSURE