THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 1992
SPECULATION ON DOMESTIC PROPERTY MUST BE STOPPED: FS
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THE GOVERNMENT MUST PREVENT THE RECURRENCE OF SPECULATION ON DOMESTIC PROPERTY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR MACLEOD SAID HE IS ANXIOUS TO SEE THE MEASURES ON STAMP DUTY GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WE NEED TO GET THE STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT} NO. 4 BILL 1991 IN PLACE SO THAT WE CAN AT LEAST STOP THE ARTIFICIAL ESCALATION OF FLAT PRICES, HE SAID,
DETAILS,
MR MACLEOD SAID HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT IT TAKES 30 LONG. WE SHOULD NOT GET BOGGED DOWN IN THE DISCUSSION OF TECHNICAL HE ADDED.
"WE MUST GET THE RULES IN PLACE. WE MUST ANTI-AVOIDANCE MEASURES IN PLACE. IF WE WAIT FOR PERFECTION, NEVER GET THERE, HE SAID.
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TURNING TO THE DISPUTE BETWEEN THE U.S AND CHINA OVER PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS MR MACLEOD SAID PROBLEM HONG KONG FACES IS THAT WHEN THERE ARE A SERIES OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U.S. HANGING OVER CHINA, THEY HANG INDIRECTLY OVER HONG KONG,
MR MACLEOD ADDED THAT THIS IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U.S. AND THAT HAS TO BE SOLVED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
"BUT WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO HELP WE WILL DO SO BUT WE ARE NOT OBVIOUSLY PRIMARILY INVOLVED, HE SAID.
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LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME TO CONTINUE
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT IT WILL CONTINUE THE GENERAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME IN A CONTROLLED WAY, TARGETTED AT AREAS MOST IN NEED OF WORKERS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE STEPS TO AUGMENT THE PROVISION OF TRAINING AND RETRAINING FOR LOCAL WORKERS SO AS ΤΟ ASSIST THEM TO MOVE INTO BETTER PAID JOBS IN AREAS OF HIGH DEMAND.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN STRESSED THAT A NEW FEATURE OF THE SCHEME IS THAT INSTEAD OF AN ANNUAL QUOTA, A CEILING WILL BE SET ON THE NUMBER OF WORKERS THAT CAN BE IMPORTED AT ANY POINT OF TIME.
"IN SETTING