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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1990
BROAD-BASED TAX WILL INFLATE ECONOMY
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NOTHING WOULD INFLATE THE ECONOMY AND INCREASE DEMAND FOR HIGHER WAGES MORE THAN A BROAD-BASED TAX THAT WOULD SQUEEZE THE POOR TO RELIEVE THE TAXES OF THE RICH, HON ELSIE TU, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
ON
MRS TU SUGGESTED THAT INDIRECT TAX SHOULD BE LEVIED LUXURY GOODS WHICH PEOPLE COULD AFFORD WITHOUT CAUSING UNDUR SUFFERING TO THEMSELVES.
SPEAKING IN THE BUDGET DEBATE, MRS TU SAID IT WOULD BR TOTALLY FAIR THAT THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD THE LUXURIES OF LIFE ΤΟ CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE ECONOMY THAN THOSE WHO COULD BARELY MANAGE TO BUY THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE.
SHE ADDED THAT REIMBURSEMENT OF TAX COULD EASILY BE ARRANGED TO PROTECT THE TOURIST TRADE AS WAS DONE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
MRS TU CRITICISED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR THE INCREASED TAX ON HYDROCARBON OILS WHICH HAD AFFECTED THE WHOLE POPULATION, NOT LEAST LOWER-PAID WORKERS.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE RISE IN OIL TAX HAD RESULTED IN TAXI OPERATORS AND DRIVERS PAYING THE TAX PERSONALLY, WHILE OIL SUPPLIERS SUFFERED NO LOSS.
EVENTUALLY, THE BURDEN OF TAX WOULD BE FILTERED TO THE LOWEST PAID WORKERS WITH THE RISE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES, SHE ADDED.
ON THE CIVIL SERVICE, MRS TU SAID THERE HAD BEEN A WIDENING GAP IN PAY NOT ONLY DOLLAR-WISE, BUT ALSO PERCENTAGE WISE BETWEEN THOSE AT THE TOP AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE LADDER.
ALSO, THERE HAD BEEN AN EVER-WIDENING GAP IN THE WORKLOAD AS WORK WAS PASSED DOWN THE LADDER, SHE ADDED,
"I AM AFRAID IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, LABOUR UNREST, WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN, WILL INCREASE ADDING TO THE POLITICAL ANXIETIES WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR," SHE SAID.
IN APPEALING FOR THE NARROWING OF INEQUALITIES IN THE COMMUNITY, MRS TU SUGGESTED THAT THOSE WHO MADE THE DECISIONS ON PAY AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE SHOULD LOOK AFTER THE INTERESTS OF THOSE WHO HAD NO SAY IN MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.
"I AM NOT ASKING FOR FREE LUNCHES
FREE
LUNCHES BELONG TO FAIR SYSTEM OF
A FAIR TAX
THE PRIVILEGED IN THE COMMUNITY. ALL I ASK IS A REWARD FOR LABOUR, FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF WORKLOAD, POLICY, FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS MEANS," SHE SAID.
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