HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
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I trust that we will see fulfilled the hope expressed by the Committee that, in view of the purpose for which the proceeds of these four taxes are to be used, there will be no attempt at evasion; and I wish to assure the public that officers of the War Taxation Department will regard it as their duty to help and advise them in assessing their individual shares of the voluntary contribution which the Colony is making to His Majesty's Government towards the prosecution of the war with Germany. (Applause).
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.-I move the suspension of that part of the Standing Orders of this Council which stands in the way of this Bill being read a second time. The object of this motion is to enable the Bill with the principles of which Honourable Members are familiar, to be referred, subject to the approval of Council, without further delay to the Standing Law Committee, to consider its clauses and any constructive comments that may be communicated to the Committee.
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and this was agreed to.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.-I beg to move the second reading of a Bill intituled "An Ordinance to impose war taxes and to regulate the Collection thereof."
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.
HON. MR. M. K. LO.To me it is a matter for gratification that this Council should now have before it a measure which has already received the unanimous general approval of this Council, and which will enable the Colony to make to England a fitting war contribution to be raised from the wealthier members of the community. In this congenial atmosphere of accord I refrain from answering, and criticising, certain observations which fell from some of the Official speakers in this Council on the opposition advanced in this Council against the Income Tax proposals. But I feel it is due to this Council that I should set out my reasons for opposing the original, and accepting the present, proposals.
The Income Tax Committee, of which I had the honour of being a member, held its first meeting on November 3rd 1939, and at this meeting a draft Income Tax Bill, which had been previously sent to the members, was placed before the Committee for its consideration. This Bill consisted of 87 clauses, many of which were so necessarily complicated as to be beyond the comprehension of the general public, and which occupied some 49 pages of print. A close study of the Bill forcibly confirmed the view I had entertained that an Income Tax measure was quite unsuitable to local conditions, and that it would have unfortunate repercussions on the Colony.
At this meeting I asked for a ruling whether, under the terms of our reference, the Committee was entitled to express an opinion
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