XN000022-1974-03-13 — Page 2

Wednesday, March 13, 1974

UNOFFICIALS SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE

Mr. Woo Calls For Counter Measures Against Inflation

Unofficial members of the Legislative Council are strongly

against any scaling down of the social targets set in the fields of

education, housing, social welfare and other community services, despite

the difficulties involved in raising the huge sum to pay for them.

"We remain committed to programmes which will provide a better

life for all in the 1980s," the Senior Unofficial Member, the Hon. Woo

Pak-chuen, stressed during the resumed Budget debate today.

"It is an enormously expensive programme," he added, "but to

turn back now because of inflation and other difficulties would be an

admission of defeat,"

Ho pointed out that new sources of revenue would have to be

found to meet the targets, but he and his unofficial colleagues disagreed

with the Financial Secretary that the money should be raised by increasing

the rate of direct ta..0100-

"We do not believe that an increase in direct taxation is the

right way,

tT

I said Mr. Woo.

When the time came to look for new sources of revenue, the unofficials

favoured indirect taxation and a system which would share the burden equitably

among those more readily able to bear the cost.

We must