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THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1985
DR CHAM VOICED HIS CONCERN OVER THE ISSUE OF EQUITY IN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSAL TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS FROM OVERSEAS IN HIS IDEA TO REFORM THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF DUTY-FREE CONCESSION TO BEARERS OF TOBACCO AT THE POINT OF ENTRY INTO HONG KONG,
HE FELT THAT VISITING NON-RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT BE PRIVILEGED UNDER A NEW PREFERENTIAL FORM OF DUTY ALLOWANCE.
+THE VOLUME OF EXEMPTION PROEPOSED FOR VISITORS MAY BE TOO LENIENT IF SUCH CONCESSION IS MERELY TO ALLOW FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL CONSUMPTION DURING THEIR TEMPORARY STAY IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
+
QUOTING STATISTICS FROM THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION WHICH INDICATED THAT VISITORS TO HONG KONG LAST YEAR STAYED FOR AN AVERAGE PERIOD OF 3.62 NIGHTS, DR CHAM DOUBTED WHETHER THE CONSUMPTION OF 200 CIGARETTES WITHIN SUCH A SHORT INTERVAL WAS REALLY NEEDED.
+ WOULD SUBSCRIBE TO THE RETENTION OF A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CONCESSION TO BOTH VISITORS AND RESIDENTS ENTERING THE TERRITORY, WITH AN ALLOWANCE OF 100 CIGARETTES FOR BOTH CATEGORIES ON A COMPREHENSIVE NON-DISCRIMINATORY BASIS, HE STATED.
DR CHAM ALSO SAID HE AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT FEES AND CHARGES REQUIRED REGULAR UPDATING TO COVER COSTS.
+RECOVERING COSTS MUST BE AN IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CHARGES ARE RELATED TO NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES, + HE SAID.
HE WAS REFERRING PARTICULARLY TO THE PASSENGER EMBARKATION FEES AND BERTHING FEES FOR MACAU FERRY SERVICES AND SAID HE WAS SURPRISED TO HEAR THAT REVENUE DERIVED FROM THIS SOURCE WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER OPERATING COSTS LET ALONE TO PROVIDE ANY RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
+AS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE, THE GENERAL TAXPAYER SHOULD NOT SUBSIDISE VISITORS TO MACAU, WHICH IS MORE A LUXURY THAN AN ESSENTIAL ITEM, HE REMARKED.
HE SUGGESTED THAT IF THE PRESENTLY PROPOSED INCREASES STILL COULD NOT COVER COSTS, SHARPER INCREASES SHOULD BE INTRODUCED UNTIL FULL COSTS WERE RECOVERED.
TURNING TO ECONOMY, DR CHAM SAID THE MOST ENCOURAGING EVIDENCE FOR GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY WAS THE HEALTHY GROWTH OF TRADE.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS LITTLE GROUND FOR COMPLACENCY, AT A TIME WHEN THE CURBING EFFECTS OF PROTECTIONISM WERE INCREASINGLY FELT.
+OBVIOUSLY, FREE