VARIOUS INCOME GROUPS BEING TAKEN CARE OF IN TAX PACKAGE
* * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT WILL, IN CONSIDERING ANY TAX PROPOSAL, TAKE LOWER INTO ACCOUNT THE EFFECT ON VARIOUS INCOME GROUPS, INCLUDING THE
THE SECRETARY,
HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, INCOME GROUP, THE FINANCIAL INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEUNG WAI-TUNG,
AROUND SAID AT SIR PIERS
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, A NUMBER OF
FOR SUGGESTIONS ORGANISATIONS HAD
IN CONSIDERATION
THE
FORTHCOMING BUDGET.
SENT IN
MANY OF THE SUGGESTIONS GENERATED SOME DEGREE OF PUBLIC DEBATE,
HE SAID.
"GENERALLY, I ALLOW THE DEBATE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT MY STEPPING
IN TOO EARLY TO KNOCK IT ON THE HEAD.
"BUT, BY NOT DISMISSING A PROPOSAL, I AM BY NO THAT I SUPPORT IT, SIR PIERS SAID.
MEANS IMPLYING
MANY PROPOSALS RECEIVED HAD PROVEN TO BE UNACCEPTABLE REASON OR ANOTHER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
FOR ONE
—
LEGAL AID FREE FOR ALL REGARDLESS RESIDENCE OR NATIONALITY
RESIDENCE
IN
HONG KONG
IS NOT A LEGAL
THE AID, ELIGIBILITY OF RECEIVING INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN FACTOR HON SIR
PIERS
DETERMINING JACOBS,
THE HON PEGGY LAM, SIR THE DISTRICT OR HIGH REGARDLESS OF RESIDENCE
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY PIERS, SAID ANYONE INVOLVED IN PROCEEDINGS IN
TO APPLY FOR LEGAL AID, COURT WAS ELIGIBLE OR NATIONALITY.
"THIS IS THE NORMAL PRACTICE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD AND NOT UNIQUE TO HONG KONG, SIR PIERS SAID.
TEST.
11
HE POINTED OUT THAT ALL APPLICANTS
IT IS
ALSO BE MUST
MUST CASES, IT
WERE SUBJECT TO A
REASONABLE GROUNDS BE IN THE INTERESTS
MEANS FOR
OF
IN CIVIL CASES, THERE LITIGATING. IN CRIMINAL
JUSTICE FOR LEGAL AID TO BE PROVIDED.
"RESIDENCE
IN HONG
KONG
IS
NOT
THEREFORE
DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY, AND SEPARATE STATISTICS
FACTOR
IN
A ARE NOT MAINTAINED
ON NON-HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO WHOM LEGAL AID HAS BEEN GRANTED.
"EXTRACTING SUCH STATISTICS FROM
CASE FILES WOULD BE A HUGE TASK, RESOURCES BETTER USED IN ASSISTING PIERS SAID.
THE LEGAL
THE REQUIRING
AID DEPARTMENT'g DIVERSION OF STAFF
LEGAL AID, "
SIR
APPLICANTS FOR
/FOR THE