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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1992
OVER THE SAME PERIOD, THE AUTHORITY HAS PRODUCED 16,500 RENTAL TYPE FLATS FOR SALE UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THESE WERE NOT NECESSARILY 'FLATS ORIGINALLY EARMARKED FOR RENTING'.
"DECISIONS TO DESIGNATE CERTAIN BLOCKS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME (HOS) USES ARE TAKEN AT AN EARLY STAGE IN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE INCLUSION OF THE RENTAL BLOCK DESIGN IN THE HOS PROGRAMME GIVES A WIDER MIX OF FLAT SIZES AND PRICES FOR HOS PURCHASERS," HE ADDED.
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MR LEUNG ALSO SAID LAND FOR CONSTRUCTION
HOS BLOCKS WAS ACCOUNTABLE UNDER THE ANNUAL 50 HECTARE LIMIT. THIS ALSO INCLUDED TRANSFERS OF SITES FROM RENTAL PURPOSES TO HOS USES.
UNDERGROUND ECONOMY HAS LITTLE IMPACT ON GOVT REVENUE
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SIZE OF UNDERGROUND ECONOMY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HUANG CHEN-YA IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MRS CHAN SAID SUCH ACTIVITIES WERE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY, LOCATE AND MEASURE DUE TO THEIR PETTY AND DISPERSED NATURE.
"IN THE CASE OF ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS DRUG TRAFFICKING AND SMUGGLING, THE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING CREDIBLE STATISTICAL INFORMATION IS SELF-EVIDENT," SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN SAID EXAMPLES OF PETTY ACTIVITIES INCLUDED PRIVATE TUITION, PART-TIME DOMESTIC HELP, FORTUNE TELLING, AND SOME SEGMENTS OF HAWKING AND PERSONAL SERVICES.
RESPECTIVE ACTIVITIES
MRS CHAN NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE INCOMES OF THE SERVICE PROVIDERS WERE GENERALLY UNRECORDED, THE VOLUME OF CONCERNED AND THE TOTAL INCOME GENERATED WERE BELIEVED To RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED WITH THE SIZE OF THE ENTIRE ECONOMY.
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"THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INFORMATION ON SOMB OF THESE PETTY ACTIVITIES BUT IT TENDS TO BE FRAGMENTARY AND NOT VERY RELIABLE.
"IMPROVING OUR INFORMATION BASE WOULD, HOWEVER, REQUIRE DISPROPORTIONATE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, SHE ADDED.
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ON THE IMPACT OF UNDERGROUND ECONOMY ON GENERAL REVENUE, MRS CHAN SAID AS THESE PETTY ACTIVITIES WERE USUALLY PERFORMED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH INCOME BELOW THE TAX THRESHOLD, THEY WERE LIKELY TO HAVE LITTLE BEARING ON GENERAL REVENUE.
/"TAXES ON