WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1982
SIX BILLS PASSED
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SIX BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THEY ARE THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TRUST FUND BİLL 1982, THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, AND THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TRUST FUND SET UP
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THE SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TRUST FUND BILL 1982, WHICH PROVIDES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRUST FUND TO COMMEMORATE SIR MURRAY'S DISTINGUISHED GOVERNORSHIP, WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY SAID THE FUND WOULD BE A PERPETUAL ONE, ESTABLISHED BY PUBLIC DONATION AND UNDER THE TRUST OF THE SECRETÁRY FOR HOME AFFAIRS INCORPORATED.
HE NOTED THAT THE FUND DID NOT REFER TO ANY SPECIFIC SOCIAL AREA BECAUSE ALL SOCIAL SERVICES WERE ALREADY SO COMPREHENSIVELY COVERED BY GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES THAT A CHARITABLE FUND OF THAT KIND COULD NOT FINANCE A SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL SERVICE.
+ INSTEAD, SIR MURRAY THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT IF IT COULD ASSIST WORTHY PROJECTS OR ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD NOT BE FINANCED IN ANY OTHER WAY.
+THE OBJECT OF THE FUND IS THEREFORE STATED IN THE BROADEST TERMS TO BE USED FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS THE GOVERNOR OF THE DAY MAY PERSONALLY DECIDE, HE SAID.
THE FUND WAS A CHARITABLE TRUST UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE AND WAS THEREFORE EXEMPTED FROM TAX, AND DONATIONS WERE TAX DEDUCTIBLE, HE SAID.
MR BRAY SAID THAT SIR MURRAY APPRECIATED THIS KIND GESTURE AND HAD AGREED TO THE USE OF HIS NAME IN THE TITLE.
A TOTAL OF $21.5 MILLION HAD SO FAR BEEN PLEDGED, HE SAID.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL ON BEHALF OF ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR ROGER LOBO SAID HE BELIEVED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A PERMANENT FUND WAS A MOST APPROPRIATE WAY TO COMMEMORATE SIR MURRAY'S DISTINGUISHED TERM OF OFFICE.
+WHILST UMELCO WAS PRIVILEGED TO LAUNCH THE IDEA, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GENEROUS SUPPORT GIVEN TO THE FUND BY ITS DISTINGUISHED FUND RAISING COMMITTEE AND BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AT LARGE,+ HE SAID.
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