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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
ON THE TERTIARY SERVICE AND RE-EXPORT TRADE, DR HU SAID THAT THIS SECTOR DEPENDS MAINLY ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA, IN PARTICULAR WITH GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
DESPITE WORLD RECESSION, THEY PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 583 000 JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN 1982.
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INITIATE MORE ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL CONTACTS AND JOINT ENTERPRISES WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES, SO AS TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER.
REFERRING TO SOCIAL SERVICES, DR HU SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONS FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS,
HE NOTED THAT HE HAD VISITED SEVERAL SUCH INSTITUTIONS DURING THE PAST YEARS.
+BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVING AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVED THERE IN DESERVE OUR GREAT SYMPATHY.
+ IT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL OF PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE TO SERVE THOSE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHO ARE ENTIRELY HELPLESS.
+ SHOULD THINK THE MANNING RATIO OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE 1 TO 1 AND THE STAFF THERE SHOULD NOT BE WORKING LONG HOURS,+ HE SAID.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE GENEROUS IN DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF OLD AGE, IMMATURITY, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, AND OTHER SIMILAR FACTORS.
ONE PER CENT PROFITS TAX INCREASE SUGGESTED
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A SUGGESTION THAT PROFITS TAX BE INCREASED BY A +MODEST ONE PER CENT+ NEXT YEAR WAS MADE BY THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN.
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID HIS SUGGESTION COULD RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $417 MILLION BY ONE CALCULATION OR $466 MILLION BY ANOTHER.
FR MCGOVERN STRESSED THAT HIS SUGGESTION SERVED AS +AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FURTHER PERSECUTION OF THE PRIVATE MOTORISTS+ IF ADDITIONAL REVENUE WAS STILL NEEDED NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
EXPLAINING HIS REASON FOR OFFERING THIS SUGGESTION, HE SAID HE HAD NOTED ONE PECULIAR FEATURE IN ALL THE RECENT TALK ABOUT TIGHTENING BELTS.
BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAD BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT BELT TIGHTENING WAS NECESSARY.
+THE ODD THING I HAVE NOTED IS THAT THEY ALSO SEEM TO AGREE THAT THE BELT TIGHTENING SHOULD BE BY THEIR EMPLOYEES.