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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1990
"I CAN WELL UNDERSTAND THAT WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF THE MORALE OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE, BUT WHEN OUR ECONOMY IS HAVING PROBLEMS, WE MUST EXERCISE THE CLOSEST SCRUTINY IN CONTROLLING SUCH EXPENDITURE, HE SAID.
H
MR POON POINTED OUT THAT THE ADJUSTMENT IN RATES WAS HEFTY WITH A PROPOSED 25 PER CENT INCREASE WHICH WOULD AFFECT A WIDE SECTION OF THE PUBLIC.
AS ALL RATEABLE VALUES WERE TO BE REVISED WITH EFFECT FROM 1991/92, THE FUTURE IMPACT WOULD BE EVEN GREATER, HE ADDED.
CALL FOR REVIEW OF TAX SYSTEM
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE ENTIRE TAX SYSTEM, THE HON MARTIN LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR LEE SAID THAT THE REVIEW SHOULD EXAMINE THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT'S REVENUE POLICIES AND WHETHER THAT PHILOSOPHY WAS BEING IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE CURRENT TAX SYSTEM.
"IN PARTICULAR, THE REVIEW WOULD EXAMINE THE PRESENT TAX BAND STRUCTURE AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES, IT WOULD ALSO SEEK TO DETERMINE WHAT ARE THE OPTIMUM RATES FOR THE SALARIES AND PROFITS TAXES.
MR LEE STRESSED THAT OPINIONS FROM ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, AND THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF A TAX ALLOWANCE FOR MORTGAGE INTEREST SHOULD BE EXAMINED FOR THE SAKE OF THE "SANDWICHED" CLASS.
IN ADDITION, THE REVIEW SHOULD DETERMINE HOW INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES PLANNED BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCED, HE SAID.
THE EXTENSIVE OUGHT ΤΟ BE
ON THE SUBJECT OF INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS, MR LEE SAID THE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT HESITATE TO DISCUSS IN FULL THE MANY DIFFERENT SIDES OF THE QUESTIONS WE WOULD FACE, BE THEY POLITICAL OR FISCAL.
"THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND ENCOURAGE THEM AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN THIS COUNCIL TO HAVE A HEALTHY, FULL-FLEDGED DEBATE ON ANY MAJOR POLICY MATTER BEFORE COMING TO A FINAL DECISION ON IT," HE SAID.
/NOTING THAT