ESDAY, J'._
LAND ASSESSMENT TIME EXPLAINED
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SIMPLE CASES OF ASSESSMENT OF NEW TERRITORIES LAND PROPERTY VALUES FOR ESTATE DUTY COULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ONE MONTH, BUT COMPLEX CASES MIGHT TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS OR MORE TO COMPLÉTE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG ABOUT THE LENGTH OF TIME TAKEN IN ASSESSING SUCH CASES,
WHILE THE COMMISSIONER FOR ESTATE DUTY AND OTHERS INVOLVED DID THEIR BEST TO COMPLETE VALUATIONS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES AND THEIR PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS COULD DO MUCH TO HELP BY FULLY DISCLOSING IN THEIR ESTATE DUTY AFFIDAVITS ALL LANDED PROPERTY WITH REALISTIC ASSESSMENTS OF THE OPEN MARKET VALUE, MR JACOBS SAID.
GOVT OFFERS TO PUT +BOAT BRIDES+ CASE TO CHINA
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IF THE 14 +BOAT BRIDES+ REQUIRED BY LAW TO RETURN TO CHINA LEFT VOLUNTARILY, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY PUT THE IR CASE TO THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES FOR THEM TO GET PRIORITY IN THE ISSUE OF ONE-WAY PERMITS TO COME BACK TO HONG KONG LEGALLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR JEAFFRESON WAS REPLYING TO A SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION OVER THE DECISION TO REPATRIATE 14 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIVES LIVING IN DWELLING BOATS IN THE YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER.
HE SAID HE SAW NO REASON WHY THESE 14 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIVES LIVING IN THE YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER SHOULD BE TREATED ANY BETTER THAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIVES LIVING ANYWHERE ELSE.
+ ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT HUSBANDS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WIVES FOUND LIVING ON LAND IN HONG KONG ARE RETURNED TO CHINA -- EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES FOR SOME TIME,+ HE SAID.
+THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT THESE WIVES IN THE YAU MA TE I TYPHOON SHELTER ARE IN HONG KONG ILLEGALLY, ARRIVED HERE RELATIVELY RECENTLY, AND PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF ALL, HAVE JUMPED A LONG QUEUE OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO COME HERE LEGALLY USING THE ONE-WAY PERMIT SYSTEM. +
MR JE AFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT BETWEEN 8 000 AND 9 000 WIVES WERE COMING TO HONG KONG LEGALLY EVERY YEAR BY THIS MEANS.
/+IF THESE