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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1988
SHE NOTED THAT THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY URGENT NEED FOR A WIDER TAX BASE, AND THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF PROPER ARRANGEMENTS, THE SUGGESTED SALES TAX, EVEN IF INTRODUCED AT THE WHOLESALE LEVEL, WOULD INCREASE THE TAX BURDEN ON THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
CALLING ON THE AUTHORITIES TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER HOW SALES TAX COULD BE INTRODUCED ΤΟ ENHANCE THE STABILITY OF REVENUE YIELD WITHOUT SERIOUSLY AFFECTING THE PUBLIC'S LIVELIHOOD, SHE PROPOSED, FIRSTLY, THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CHOOSE ONLY UP-MARKET CONSUMER GOODS FOR THE LEVY OF SALES TAX.
"SECONDLY, THE GOVERNMENT MAY CONSIDER APPLYING DIFFERENT RATES FOR DIFFERENT KINDS OF CONSUMER GOODS.
THIRDLY, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO GRANTING GREATER CONCESSIONS TO SALARIES TAX UPON THE INTRODUCTION OF SALES TAX, SHE
SAID.
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NOTING THAT THE HARDEST HIT WOULD BE THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP, MRS TAM ALSO SUGGESTED THAT, IN CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF SALES TAX, THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD GIVE THIS GROUP FURTHER CONCESSIONS IN RESPECT OF THEIR SALARIES TAX, OR WIDEN THE INCOME LEVELS FOR MARGINAL TAX RATES, OR ABOLISH THE CLAWBACK ON ADDITIONAL PERSONAL ALLOWANCES.
ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, MRS TAM SAID THAT THE IMPROVED ARRANGEMENT WERE ENCOURAGING, HOWEVER, WITH THE HUGE SURPLUS IN PUBLIC FINANCES, THE AUTHORITIES COULD NOW LOOK POSITIVELY INTO THE NEED FOR BETTERING THE QUALITY OF SERVICES.
"TAKE CAMPS AND HOSTELS SERVICE FOR EXAMPLE, THE QUALITY IS EXPECTED TO IMPROVE WHEN MANAGEMENT IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH.
"HENCE, THE FUNDS ALLOCATED TO THE SERVICE THIS YEAR HAVE ONLY BEEN INCREASED BY $800,000 WHICH IS FAR BELOW THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FOR IMPROVING THE CAMPS AND HOSTELS FACILITIES.
SHE ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE FULL CONSIDERATION TO THE SHORTAGE OF SOCIAL WORKERS WHEN PLANNING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES,
ON PLANNING FOR SERVICES, SHE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FIRSTLY MAKE A THOROUGH STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGE IN POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ON THE PROVISION OF EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICES.
"SECONDLY, THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD ADOPT A MORE FLEXIBLE APPROACH IN PLANNING FOR THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES AND MAKE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS IN LINE WITH THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF EACH DISTRICT, SHE SAID.
SILE NOTED THAT WHILE THE PLANNING ON YOUTH CENTRES HAD BEEN GIVEN A DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY, THAT ON OTHER SERVICES LIKE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND CHILD CARE CENTRES WAS NOT FLEXIBLE ENOUGH.
/MOREOVER, OWING
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