WENDESDAY, APRIL 21, 1991
WE SHALL ALSO CONSIDER THE SUGGESTION THAT SOME NON-POLICE PERSONNEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE INVESTIGATING TEAMS IN CAPO, WITH A VIEW TO BOOSTING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM. I WILL DISCUSS THIS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.
I
ALSO AGREE THAT, AT PRESENT, PUBLICITY OF THE WORK OF CAPO AND THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS INADEQUATE. THIS HAS HELPED TO FOSTER MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT OUR SYSTEM FOR HANDLING POLICE COMPLAINTS. WE INTEND TO IMPROVE PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, SO AS TO CORRECT MISCONCEPTIONS WHICH MAY DISCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM LODGING COMPLAINTS, AND ΤΟ ASSURE COMPLAINANTS AND COMPLAINEES ALIKE OF THE IMPARTIALITY OF THE SYSTEM.
I ALSO AGREE THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE RELIABLE INFORMATION ON THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE EXISTING SYSTEM FOR HANDLING COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE POLICE. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IS PLANNING TO CONDUCT A SAMPLE SURVEY OF COMPLAINANTS WHOSE CASES HAVE RECENTLY BEEN FINALISED. THIS SHOULD GIVE US SOME INDICATION OF HOW THE EXISTING SYSTEM MIGHT BE IMPROVED. THE ADMINISTRATION WILL ALSO DISCUSS WITH THE POLICE COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE HOW WE SHOULD SEEK TO GAUGE PUBLIC OPINION ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE SYSTEM, TO SEE WHETHER FURTHER CHANGES ARE NECESSARY.
MR PRESIDENT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE SYSTEM FOR HANDLING POLICE COMPLAINTS SHOULD BE, AND BE SEEN то BE OPEN, FAIR AND TRANSPARENT. WE SHOULD SEEK TO BUILD ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM, NOT TO OVERTHROW IT. THE PROPOSALS IN MRS LAM'S AMENDMENT TO MR TO'S MOTION WILL, I BELIEVE, ACHIEVE REAL WORTHWHILE IMPROVEMENTS; AND FORM A BASIS ON WHICH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN IF NECESSARY BE MADE. THIS APPROACH TO IMPROVING THE EXISTING SYSTEM IS PRAGMATIC AND SENSIBLE. IT WILL ENABLE US AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO REVIEW THE NEED FOR FURTHER CHANGES IN FUTURE.
MR PRESIDENT, I COMMEND MRS LAM'S AMENDMENT.
10 BUDGET-RELATED BILLS INTRODUCED
то THE REVENUE-RELATED
COUNCIL
A TOTAL OF 10 BILLS TO GIVE EFFECT PROPOSALS IN THE BUDGET WERE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993 SEEKS TO MAKE TWO MAJOR CONCESSIONS ON SALARIES TAX.
ONE IS TO WIDEN THE SECOND AND THIRD MARGINAL TAX RATE BANDS WHILE THE OTHER IS TO INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY SALARIES TAX ALLOWANCES, BOTH APPLICABLE FROM THE 1993/94 YEAR OF ASSESSMENT.
THE COMBINATION OF THESE CONCESSIONS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED TAX BILLS FOR OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF SALARIES TAXPAYERS, WHILE MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A MILLION OTHER TAXPAYERS WILL FALL OUT OF THE TAX NET ALTOGETHER.
THE EFFECT