Q
THULAY, MARCH 28, 1985
+THOSE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE NOT AND ARE NOT LIKELY TO OVER EXPLOIT THE CONCESSION SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED.
+FOR THOSE HONG KONG ENTREPRENEURS WHO HAVE HITHERTO ABUSED THE SYSTEM, THIS PROPOSED ADJUSTMENT SHOULD MAKE THEIR EFFORTS TOTALLY UNVIABLE, SHE SAID.
REGARDING THE PROPOSED TAX ON NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, MRS CHOW SAID THE CONTROVERSY RESULTING FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REFERENCE TO SOFT DRINKS AS A PLEASING INDULGENCE AND NOT A NECESSITY SHOULD NOT BE MISTAKEN AS RESISTANCE TO THE DUTY,
REAL RESISTANCE, IF ANY, COULD ONLY BE ESTABLISHED BY MONITORING THE MARKET ACTIVITIES, SHE SAID.
SHE OBSERVED THAT ACCORDING TO SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, PRICES HAD REMAINED STABLE AND AT LEVELS PREDICTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
SHE SAID IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT EVEN AFTER THE INCREASE WHICH TOOK IN THE PROPOSED DUTY, LEVELS WERE ABOUT TEN PER CENT LOWER THAN THE RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICE IN THE TRADE.
+ IT SEEMS TO INDICATE THAT PRICES AT THEIR PRESENT LEVEL ARE AFFORDABLE AND ACCEPTABLE, SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT AGREE WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S COMPARISON OF SOFT DRINKS WITH BEER.
+HE HAS OVERLOOKED THE FACT THAT A CONSIDERABLE PROPORTION OF CONSUMERS OF SOFT DRINKS ARE MINORS. FURTHERMORE I REGRET THAT A DUTY THAT HIT YOUNG PEOPLE THE HARDEST HAD TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR, SHE SAID.
TURNING TO THE DUTY ON COSMETICS, MRS CHOW SAID THAT THE COSTS OF PRODUCTS GIVEN IN THE FOOTNOTE OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S SPEECH WERE MISLEADING, AS THEY HAD NOT INCLUDED MARKETING COSTS SUCH AS ADVERTISING AND PACKAGING.
SHE NOTED THAT NUMEROUS OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS WOULD NOW NEED TO BE RESOLVED BETWEEN THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS AND THE TRADE.
SHE URGED THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED TO BE RECEPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO PRACTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE GROUND, AND TO KEEP INCONVENIENCE TO THE LOWEST POSSIBLE LEVEL.
MRS CHOW ALSO SAID THE APPLICATION OF THE WHOLESALE PRICE AS THE BASE FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED COSMETICS WOULD INFLATE THE DUTY FOR THIS CATEGORY AS THIS PRICE WOULD HAVE INCLUDED THE HEFTY MARKETING COSTS AND PROFITS.
/AFART FROM