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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983
→IN SO FAR AS THE REMOVAL OF RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION ENCOURAGES A STABLE AND PRODUCTIVE PRIVATE PROPERTY MARKET, IT IS AN END WHICH WILL CONTINUE TO BE PURSUED AS PART OF OUR
MR LIAO SAID.
OVERALL HOUSING POLICY,
THE BILL HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF WIDE CONSULTATION WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC, HE POINTED OUT,
THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS PROPOSED WERE THE OUTCOME OF THIS CONSULTATIVE PROCESS, HE SAID.
SECURITY MEASURES PROMISED ON AIRPORT TAX COLLECTION *****
ASSURANCE WAS GIVEN BY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON DOUGLAS BLYE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT ALL REASONABLE SECURITY PRECAUTIONS AND MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN TO SAFEGUARD THE MONEY COLLECTED AND TO PROTECT AIRLINE STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX.
MR BLYE ADDED THAT HE WOULD NOT, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, WISH TO DISCLOSE PUBLICLY EXACTLY WHAT THOSE MEASURES WERE, AND SAID: +1 CAN ALSO ASSURE MEMBERS THAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO GUARD AGAINST THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FLOW OF PASSENGERS MAY BE DISRUPTED BY COLLECTION OF MONEY AT THE CHECK-IN COUNTERS.
+THE SITUATION WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW TO ENSURE THAT PROBLEMS ARE DEALT WITH PROMPTLY AND APPROPRIATELY.
MR BLYE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX BILL.
IN THANK ING MEMBERS FOR THE IR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEBATE ON THE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS, MR BLYE REFERRED ALSO TO POINTS RAISED BY DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG. HE DID NOT, MR BLYE SAID, SHARE DR HUANG'S ASSESSMENT THAT IT WAS M DRASTIC MEASURE WHICH MIGHT WELL PROVE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE.
+IT IS A MEASURE WHICH WILL PRODUCE A REASONABLE CONTRIBUTION IN REVENUE AND SO ASSIST IN BALANCING THE 1983-84 BUDGET, HE SAIL.
THE TAX, HE SAID, WOULD NOT FALL INDISCRIMINATELY ON THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, BUT ON THOSE RESIDENTS AND NON- RESIDENTS ALIKE WHO COULD AFFORD TO TRAVEL BY AIR.
MR BLYE SAID ALSO THAT HE DID NOT THINK THE TAX WOULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF TOURISTS VISITING HONG KONG.
REFERRING TO THE HON BILL BROWN'S COMMENTS ON THE BILL, MR BLYE SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE VIEWS OF THE UNOFFIC, AÍ MEMBERS' MONETARY POLICY GROUP AND ALSO FOR THE GROUP'S SUPPORT +AT LEAST IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TAX.
HE ALSO
F