DUPL. ENCL. TO DESP. 722 OF 17.1139
ORIS. ON 53652/39.
Extract from the
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
dated
17th November, 1939.
.31
315
53
*
INCOME TAX DEBATE
CONTINUED
GOVERNOR EXPLAINS
UNOFFICIALS UNITED IN OPPOSITION
MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF SOME ASPECTS ARE POINTED OUT
TO BE NO CASH GIFT
With the voices of the Hon. Mr. T. E. Pearce and the Hon. Mr. Li Tze-fong added to the opposition to the introduction of Income Tax at yesterday's meeting of the Legislative Council, unofficial opinion to the measure became unanimous.
His Excellency the Governor, winding up the debate, after referring to the recommendations of the Taxation Committee, said that if eventually it was agreed that an Income Tax Bill for war purposes should be introduced, he should have no objection to the inclusion of a clause which would effect an automatic repeal of the measure at some stated time.
His Excellency said he had been asked to widen the terms of reference of the expert committee appointed to examine the Government's proposals as framed in a Bill.He was prepared to do so on the clear understanding that the Committee would first discharge the duty which it accepted on appointment, to inquire whether an Income Tax measure suitable to the present moment's needs could be devised.
Regarding the amount of the gift to Great Britain, His Excellency made it quite clear that no particular figure had been mentioned by a Government officer, and the error had been made presumably by a too hasty reading of the Financial Secretary's speech.
The Governor also said he wished to remove a false impression that Hongkong's contribution to the war would necessarily take the form of a monetary gift sent from here to London. Such was not the case. The gift might take the form of construction in Hongkong yards of vessels for the Royal Navy, or the contribution might be towards the Royal Air Force.
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