XN000022-1975-03-20 — Page 5

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 1975

CALL FOR REINSTATEMENT OF DEPENDENT PARENTS ALLOWANCE ******

THE GOVERNMENT WAS TODAY URGED TO REINSTATE THE DEPENDENT PARENTS TAX ALLOWANCE, ABOLISHED TWO YEARS AGO, AND TO REDUCE EXISTING FEES IN GOVERNMENT CAR PARKS.

ACCORDING TO THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MANY MIDDLE-INCOME FAMILIES PAYING TAX HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY BECAUSE OF INFLATION AND RISING PRICES, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH NON-WORKING PARENTS.

SINCE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD SEEN FIT TO REINTRODUCE ENTERTAINMENT TAX, THE ALLOWANCE OF $2,000 FOR EACH NON-WORKING PARENT LIVING IN THE TAXPAYER'S HOUSE-HOLD SHOULD ALSO BE REINSTATED TO EASE THE BURDEN. ON THESE TAXPAYERS, HE SAID.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN STRESSED THAT LOOKING AFTER ONE' PARENTS WAS A TRADITIONAL CHINESE VIRTUE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPECT AND UPKEEP. FURTHERMORE, IN THE LONG RUN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE SAVING MONEY BY NOT HAVING TO BUILD SO MANY EXPENSIVE OLD PEOPLE'S HOMES AS IS THE CASE IN OTHER COUNTRIES.+

ON CAR PARK CHARGES, MR. CHEONG-LEEN FELT THEY SHOULD BE REVISED IN VIEW OF THE DRAMATIC DROP IN CAR PARK REVENUE FOLLOWING THE STEEP INCREASES LAST YEAR. ON PRESENT PERFORMANCE, THE REVENUE STOOD TO LOSE ABOUT $2 MILLION A YEAR, HE SAID.

+

*NOT ONLY THAT, BUT IN SOME OF THE MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS, MORE THAN HALF OF THE CAR PARK SPACES SEEM TO BE CONTINUOUSLY EMPTY AND UNUSED.+ BEARING IN MIND THE COST FOR BUILDING THEM AND THE FACT THAT THEY OCCUPIED PRIME LOCATIONS IT IS AN UNNECESSARY WASTAGE OF VALUABLE SPACE.+

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO PRESSED FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN WATER CHARGES WOULD NOT CAUSE HARDSHIP, PARTICULARLY TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO SHARED THE SAME FLAT IN PRE-WAR BUILDINGS.

IN ORDER TO REDUCE HARDSHIP HE SUGGESTED THAT THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY ATTRACTING THE PRESENT CHARGE OF $3 PER THOUSAND GALLONS, BE DOUBLED FROM 14,000 GALLONS TO 28,000 GALLONS FOR THE DIFFERENT FAMILIES LIVING TOGETHER AS A GROUP IN PRE-WAR FLATS IN THE MORE CONGESTED AREAS.

ON THE 2-1/2 PER CENT INCREASE IN BETTING DUTY, MR. CHEONG-LEEN FELT THIS SHOULD BE DOUBLED SO AS TO YIELD $55 MILLION TO GOVERNMENT REVENUE IN 1975/76.

HE POINTED OUT THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE BETTING DUTY WERE TO BE 7-1/2 OR 12-1/2 PER CENT, THERE WOULD ALWAYS BE A NUMBER OF GAMBLERS WHO WOULD STILL PLACE THEIR BETS WITH ILLEGAL BOOKMAKERS.

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