2
THURSDAY, 17, 1984
£
MR MACPHERSON STRESSED THAT THESE WERE JUST SOME OF THE IMMEDIATE TASKS.
+ HAVE NO DOUBT THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH IN GOOD TIME. BUT IT CAN ONLY BE WITH THE SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS THAT THESE MOVES TOWARD A MORE REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION CAN SUCCEED.+
HE ADDED THAT ALTHOUGH THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD REMAIN PRIMARILY ADVISORY, THEY WOULD IN FUTURE BE UNDERTAKING A MUCH MORE DIRECT ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRICT FACILITIES AND, AS FAR AS THE NEW TERRITORIES IS CONCERNED, THERE WOULD BE A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN THEM AND THE REGIONAL COUNCIL.
THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD AN INFLUENCE ON VIRTUALLY EVERY ASPECT OF DISTRICT LIFE AND, WITH MORE ELECTED MEMBERS, AN UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMAN, A GREATER MANAGEMENT ROLE AND THE LINK WITH THE REGIONAL LEVEL OF ADMINISTRATION, THE IR INFLUENCE WOULD CERTAINLY INCREASE.
THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, WITH ITS HEADQUARTERS IN SHA TIN, WOULD BY 1986 BE A FINANCIALLY AUTONOMOUS LOCAL AUTHORITY, DETERMINING POLICY AND PROVIDING THE SERVICES NOW PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA IN VERY MUCH THE SAME WAY AS THE URBAN COUNCIL WAS DOING FOR THE URBAN AREA.
+ I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD EXPECT ANY DRASTIC CHANGE IN THE SERVICES NOW SO EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED BUT AT LEAST THE PRIORITIES WILL BE DETERMINED, NOT BY CIVIL SERVANTS BUT BY A COUNCIL MADE UP OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED UNOFFICIALS, WITH AN ELECTED MAJORITY, + HE SAID.
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES INCREASED
* * *
FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), THE NEW ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES WILL BE 8.4 PER CENT (TAX FREE), AS AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE OF 5.16 PER CENT (TAX FREE).
NOTICE OF THIS WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW.
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES IS CALCULATED IN MONTHLY STEPS AND THE NEW RATE WILL BE 70 CENTS PER MONTH PER $100.
INTEREST WILL BE CREDITED AS BEFORE IN RESPECT OF COMPLETED MONTHS BETWEEN PURCHASE AND SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY.
INTEREST IS ONLY CREDITED WHEN CERTIFICATES ARE USED TO PAY TAX AND NO INTEREST IS DUE WHERE THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF A CERTIFICATE IS REPAID BY A CHEQUE.
THE NEW RATE WILL APPLY TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY 18, 1984.
/CERTIFICATES WHICH