14
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988
"AS THESE PARENTS WOULD NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE MARRIED COUPLE ALLOWANCE, ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE FOR SINGLE PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IS APPROPRIATE, HE SAID.
**
ON THE REDUCTION OF THE AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX FROM $120 TO $100, DR CHAM SAID HONG KONG HAD NOW BECOME THE THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE AIRPORT IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF DEPARTURE TAX BUT IT WAS STILL SOME 23 PER CENT MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TAIWAN WHICH WAS IN FOURTH PLACE.
"SURELY. HAVING ATTAINED THE REPUTATION OF A SHOPPERS ' PARADISE, WE DO NOT WISH TO CHARGE TRAVELLERS EXORBITANTLY 90 AS TO HAMPER OUR REPUTATION. NEVERTHELESS, I MUST INSIST THAT FULL COSTS SHOULD BE RECOVERED," HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THE PRINCIPLE OF NO SUBSIDIES FOR NON-ESSENTIAL SERVICES MUST BE MAINTAINED IN LINE WITH OUR BALANCED BUDGET APPROACH, DR CHAM SAID ONLY STRICT FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE WOULD ENSURE SOUND PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT.
"WE CAN'T EXPECT AND AFFORD LAVISH SUBSIDIES, HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, DR CHAM PRAISED THE • FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN PRESENTATION.
HE SAID THE OBJECTIVES WRRE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED RELATED EXPENDITURE AND ACTIVITIES, AND THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE THEIR TARGETS CLEARLY SPECIFIED FOR THE TOGETHER WITH THE BUDGETTED EXPENDITURE.
WITH THE DEPARTMENTS
COMING YEAR
OF DEPARTMENT
"IN THE COMING YEAR, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO ASSESS THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF EACH DEPARTMENT AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENT HEADS IN MEETING THEIR SPECIFIC TARGETS, HE ADDED.
INTRODUCTION OF SALES TAX OPPOSED
PLANS
BROADEN TO
THE GOVERNMENT'S
BASE REVENUE
THROUGH CHENG HON-KWAN IN
IMPOSITION OF A SALES TAX WERE OPPOSED BY THE HON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
-
A SALES WOULD THE
SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR CHENG SAID THAT TAX BE IT AT THE MANUFACTURING, WHOLESALE OR RETAIL LEVEL
BE THE ONES ΤΟ SHOULDER BE UNFAIR TO CONSUMERS AS THEY WOULD FINAL BURDEN.
TURN, WOULD LEAD ΤΟ HIGHER THIS, IN DEFINITELY HIT PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS.
INFLATION AND WOULD
/HE WARNED