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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1994
WITH THE PROPOSED RATES RELIEF MEASURE, THE AVERAGE INCREASE IN RATES IN 1994/95 FOR A SMALL PRIVATE FLAT WILL BE ABOUT $53 PER MONTH AND FOR A LARGE FLAT ABOUT $247 PER MONTH, HE ADDED.
SIR HAMISH STRESSED THAT THOSE LIVING IN PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING, THE LARGEST SINGLE GROUP OF TENANTS IN HONG KONG, WOULD NOT BE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE INCREASE IN RATES.
THE
HE SAID: "IN THE PAST, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS ABSORBED IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF ANY RATES INCREASES UNTIL RENTS CAME UP FOR REVISION. THESE RENTS, WHICH ARE INCLUSIVE OF RATES, ARE REVISED ON A ROLLING CYCLE EVERY TWO YEARS.
"I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL CONTINUE THIS PRACTICE AND THAT RENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE SET ON THE BASIS OF AFFORDABILITY. CONSEQUENTLY, PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WILL BE LITTLE AFFECTED IN PRACTICE FROM THESE RATES INCREASES, EVEN IN THE LONGER TERM.
NOTING THAT THE REVENUE FROM RATES HELPED TO FINANCE THE TWO MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, STR HAMISH SAID HE HAD REVIEWED THE FINANCIAL POSITION OF THE TWO COUNCILS AND THEIR PLANNED PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
"I HAVE REVISED THE SPLIT OF THE RATES REVENUE BETWEEN GENERAL REVENUE AND THE COUNCILS. THE NET EFFECT OF THESE MEASURES IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S REVENUE FROM RATES IN 1994/95 WILL INCREASE BY ABOUT 15% TO $5,1 BILLION, HE NOTED.
TAX CONCESSIONS FOR DISABLED AND ELECTRIC CARS
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR HAMISH MACLEOD, HAS PROPOSED IN HIS BUDGET FOR 1994/95 TWO TAX CONCESSIONS FOR THE DISABLED AND OWNER OF ELECTRIC CARS.
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IN HIS BUDGET FOR 1994/95 STR HAMISH SAID DAILY TRAVEL WAS A CHORE FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY HOW MUCH MORE TRYING MUST IT BE FOR THE DISABLED MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY RECOGNISED THEIR SPECIAL DIFFICULTIES BY GRANTING VARIOUS CONCESSIONS TO DISABLED DRIVERS OF PRIVATE CARS.
I BELIEVE THAT SIMILAR CONCESSIONS SHOULD APPLY TO THE DIAL-A- RIDE REHABUS SERVICE.
"I PROPOSE, THEREFORE, THAT PASSENGERS ON THESE SERVICES SHOULD EXEMPT FROM GOVERNMENT TUNNEL TOLLS AND THE CROSS-HARROUR TUNNEL PASSAGE TAX, HE SAID.
BE
SIR HANISH SAID HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE FISCAL SYSTEM PLAY ITS PART IN DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
COULD
/HE SAID