XN000022-1977-03-31 — Page 18

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977

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PLEA TO HEED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS' SUGGESTIONS

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THE GENERAL FEELINGS OF THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGETARY PROPOSALS WERE TODAY SUMMED UP BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG, WITH A PLEA TO THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THEIR SUGGESTIONS.

WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE ON BEHALF OF THE UNOFFICIALS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE SUBJECTS COVERED BY THE UNOFFICIALS WERE NUMEROUS, BUT THEY GENERALLY GROUPED UNDER SIX MAJOR HEADINGS: BUDGETARY STRATEGY AND FINANCING POLICY- TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ECONOMY SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL SERVICES- HOUSING AND EDUCATION CONTROL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND TAXATION.

DR. CHUNG DESCRIBED TAXATION AS POSSIBLY THE MOST IMPORTANT SUBJECT IN ANY BUDGET DEBATE, AND ECHOED THE VIEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF UNOFFICIALS CONCERNING SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCE.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED A MAXIMUM SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCE OF $2,500 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND $5,000 FOR A MARRIED PERSON WITH A +CLAW-BACK+ OF 20 PER CENT.

DR. CHUNG, HOWEVER, MADE A COUNTER SUGGESTION THAT THE MAXIMUM SHOULD BE PEGGED TO THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING SINCE MARCH 1973 WHEN THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCE WAS LAST RAISED. THIS WOULD MEAN $4,000 AND $8,000 FOR A SINGLETON AND MARRIED PERSON RESPECTIVELY.

UNDER DR. CHUNG'S PROPOSAL, THE SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCE WILL BE EXTENDED TO A SINGLETON WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF UP TO $34,000 AND A MARRIED PERSON WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF UP TO $68,000 AS OPPOSED TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S RECOMMENDATION OF UP TO $25,000 AND $50,000 RESPECTIVELY.

ALTHOUGH THIS PROPOSAL WOULD INCUR SOME LOSS OF REVENUE, DR. CHUNG STRESSED THAT THE UNOFFICIALS FELT THAT IT WAS NOT +UNREASON- ABLE+ AND DESERVED +SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION+ BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

SHOULD THE PROPOSAL BE UNACCEPTABLE TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HE HOPED THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE UNOFFICIALS COULD GET TOGETHER TO WORK OUT A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE FORMULA.

DR. CHUNG ALSO REPEATED THE STRONG PLEA MADE BY HIS TWO UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES TO BRING BACK THE DEPENDENT PARENT'S ALLOWANCE BECAUSE THE CHINESE, BOTH IN ACCORDANCE WITH TRADITION AND CUSTOM, LOOK AT THE NEED TO SUPPORT A DEPENDENT PARENT AS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN SUPPORTING A WIFE.+

ON THE QUESTION OF RATES AND RATEABLE VALUES, DR. CHUNG SUPPORTED REV. MCGOVERN'S ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE BASIC FORMULA USED BY GOVERNMENT IN THE ASSESSMENT OF RATEABLE VALUES.

/+HE ARGUES

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