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FRIDAY, JULY 6, 1984
SIMILAR DISQUALIFICATION WILL APPLY UNDER THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO TIGHTEN CONTROL ON THE RETURN AND DECLARATION OF ELECTION EXPENSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN FUTURE A CANDIDATE IN AN URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION WOULD BE PERMITTED TO SPEND UP TO $35 000 IN ELECTION EXPENSES, COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT $23 000.
THE MAXIMUM LEVEL FOR A CANDIDATE SEEKING ELECTION TO THE DISTRICT BOARD WOULD BE RAISED FROM $13 000 TO $20 000.
+THE AMOUNT FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IS HIGHER BECAUSE URBAN COUNCIL CONSTITUENCIES ARE GEOGRAPHICALLY LARGER AND HAVE A HIGHER POPULATION, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO GIVE A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE IR ELECTION EXPENSES WITHIN A SET TIME LIMIT.
THE BILL ALSO MAKES IT CLEAR THAT MONEY RECEIVED BY A CANDIDATE OR HIS AGENT FOR ELECTION PURPOSES SHALL ONLY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS HAD SHOWN THAT VOTING WAS LIGHT IN THE EARLY MORNING AND HEAVIEST DURING THE EVENING.
+ IN VIEW OF THIS, THE POLLING HOURS IN FUTURE HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO START AT 7.30 AM AND CLOSING AT 10.30 PM,+ HE SAID.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (JULY 11) FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING, AND FOR THIRD READING ON JULY 25.
BILL AIMS TO CLARIFY TAX SURCHARGE
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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO AMEND THE LAW TO STATE CLEARLY THAT THE INITIAL SURCHARGE OF FIVE PER CENT ON TAX OR RATES IN DEFAULT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO A FURTHER SURCHARGE IF NOT PAID WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
THESE AMENDMENTS ARE MADE UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1984 AND THE RATING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
COMMENTING ON THE AMENDMENTS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT UNDER THE EXISTING LEGISLATION, A PERSON MAY HAVE TO PAY A SURCHARGE OF FIVE PER CENT ON TAX OR RATES UNPAID, BY THE DUE DATE AND A FURTHER SURCHARGE OF UP TO 10 PER CENT IF THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS STILL OUTSTANDING AFTER SIX MONTHS.
THE EXISTING