CO129-568-4 Estimates 1939 8-10-1938 - 6-7-1939 — Page 17

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All

17

X and camoľ

therefore be regarded a totally distinct (rom recurrent expenditure,

forble of

on te

[

Lay-out of Government

Quarry

Kowloon - Canton Road

This may represent an important alternative to the Kowloon Canton Railway)

Air Raid Precautions

Anti-Malarial Works

$

[150,000]

75.

now reduced to

500,000

200,000

55,000

P.W. E.

6 $648,000.

The total "cut-"

made m There is a most noticeable increase in

recurrent

expenditure, while the expenditure on

Public Works Extraordinary represents a long delayed

programme which must be carried out in the not too

X

distant future. In view of the general position of

Hong Kong as set out above, and the need for increased

reserves, I would suggest that this increase in

indefence postfonement. recurrent expenditure shows that increased taxation

A.

or new sources of revenue must shortly be found in

Hong Kong, since the Colony can scarcely rely upon the

present increased yield of existing taxes, due to

war conditions in China. Quite how the new taxes

should be raised it is difficult to say, but the

maths n

existing taxation,İLÇE

ar

saman tekosycas low,

and it should be possible to increase the present

yield without too much difficulty. In the Governor's

speech on the presentation of the estimates he states

that he intends in the near future to appoint a

Committee to make an examination of the problem of

broadening the basis of taxation. It is to be hoped

that if and when new taxation is imposed some effort

will be made to grade it more in accordance with

ability to pay. In any case I suggest that the

proposal for the appointment of the Committee should

receive our approval and that we should indicate

that we consider increased taxation is likely to be

necessary.

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