XN000022-1974-07-31 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1974

MORE LEGAL POWERS FOR INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SOUGHT

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AMENDING LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT WITH MORE ADEQUATE LEGAL POWERS IS NOW IN AN ADVANCED DRAFTING STAGE, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN A REPLY TO THE HON. LI FOOK-WO WHO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOSING POTENTIAL REVENUE BECAUSE OF A SHORTAGE OF STAFF IN THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT.

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WHILE THE STAFF POSITION WOULD INEVITABLY DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH CASES WERE EXAMINED AND INVESTIGATED, MR. HADDON- CAVE REITERATED THAT A NECESSARY STEP WAS TO STRENGTHEN THE

INVESTIGATION POWERS AND PENALTY PROVISIONS OF THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE AND THEREBY PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH ADEQUATE LEGAL POVERS.

ON THE STAFF SITUATION, HE SAID THERE IS AT PRESENT SIX VACANCIES AT THE ASSESSOR GRADE OUT OF AN OPERATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT OF 88.

+THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND LOCAL CANDIDATES WITH THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND RECRUITMENT EXERCISES CONDUCTED RECENTLY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA HAVE NOT BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY WAS MAINLY TO RECRUIT ASSISTANT ASSESSORS AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY TRAINING AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANCY QUALIFICATIONS, THEREBY PRODUCING. ITS OWN SUPPLY OF POTENTIAL ASSESSORS.

+THIS POLICY STILL PROVIDES THE BEST SOLUTION TO THE SUPPLY OF QUALIFIED STAFF, ALTHOUGH ITS EFFECTIVENESS IS REDUCED BY THE FACT THAT A NUMBER OF OFFICERS TRAINED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE LEAVE FOR POSITIONS OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT EACH YEAR,+ HE SAID.

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