CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940 — Page 138

Extract from Minutes of HK

of

Minutes of HK Legislature

Council

Clause 5.

18-4-40.

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

5540

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.--I have to move an amendment in this clause which is later than the report of the Standing Law Committee, and results from further consideration and discussion, and that is the addition at the end of the proviso of the following: "Provided further that where the owner of the land is not the owner of buildings thereon a separate assessment shall be made for the land and for the buildings."

Clause 6.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.-I wish to move two amendments in this clause. The first is by the Standing Law Committee and calls for the deletion of the word "normally" at the end of the second line. The second amendment is a new sentence added as a result of further discussion. The new sentence will be "Where such payment is made by any person other than the owner of the land or buildings then the amount so paid by way of Property Tax shall be a debt due from the person assessed under Clause 5."

Clause 8.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.-I am not moving an amendment to this clause, hut I have a statement to make regarding the first paragraph of the proviso-exemption of the official emoluments of the Governor. I have to state, on His Excellency's behalf, that he will not benefit by that exemption and that he is not intending in any way to avail himself of it, nor is it inserted to protect him. It is inserted in accordance with the instructions received from two successive Secretaries of State, the present one and his predecessor, requiring such exemption of His Majesty's representative in legislation of this kind, and it is a common thing in the majority of Crown Colonies and also in the Dominions. These instructions were known to the General Committee which produced this Bill and which sat for a considerable time. As they may not be known to the general public I now make this statement. I can assure the general public that His Excellency has no intention of deriving any personal benefit as a result of that Clause.

Clause 9.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.-I wish to move in this clause that after the word "salary" in the first line of sub-paragraph (1) "leave pay" be added. This is a recommendation of the Standing Law Committee.

Clause 11.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.-After the second sub-paragraph of the proviso I suggest deletion of the word "and" and the addition at the end of paragraph (III) of a semi-colon and the word "and"

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