XN000022-1977-03-31 — Page 19

18

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977

+HE ARGUES WITH CONSIDERABLE LOGIC THAT, AS RATES ARE NO LONGER A PAYMENT FOR SERVICES RENDERED BUT NOW A FORM OF INDIRECT TAXATION, IT IS NOT FAIR TO PUT THE BURDEN SOLELY ON THE OCCUPIERS OF PREMISES, DR. CHUNG SAID.

THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER SAID THAT MR. JAMES WU ALSO ARGUED THAT SINCE GOVERNMENT HAD ALLOWED LANDLORDS A 10 PER CENT INCREASE IN RENTALS PER YEAR, WHY SHOULD IT ALLOW ITSELF AN INCREASE OF AS MUCH AS 33-1/3 PER CENT IN RATES. MR. WU BELIEVED THAT A REDUCTION TO A 25 PER CENT MAXIMUM INCREASE FOR THE FIRST YEAR WOULD PROVIDE A MEASURE OF RELIEF FROM HARDSHIP AND DIFFICULTY.

DR. CHUNG OBSERVED THAT THE REAL BASIC CAUSE OF PUBLIC RESENT- MENT OVER THIS ISSUE WAS THE INCREASE FROM BETWEEN 60 PER CENT AND 80 PER CENT TO OVER 100 PER CENT IN THE RATIO OF RATEABLE VALUE TO ACTUAL RENTAL.

HE HOPED THAT CLARIFICATION WOULD BE GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT ON THE GENUINE FACTORS WHICH HAVE LED TO SUCH A SHARP INCREASE IN RATEABLE VALUES OF PREMISES, THUS HELPING THE PUBLIC BETTER UNDER- STAND THE COMPLEXITIES OF THIS PARTICULAR EXERCISE.

REFERRING TO THE CONTROL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. DR. CHUNG EXPRESSED +DISAPPOINTMENT OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S LACK OF ANSWER TO THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS MADE BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, AND LOOKED FORWARD TO A +POSITIVE+ REPLY.

HE REPEATED MR. F.K. LI'S CALL FOR THE SETTING UP OF A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WHICH WOULD EXAMINE THE ACCOUNTS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, ENFORCE A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS AND TO LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT SPECIFIC POINTS RAISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.

ON HOUSING AND EDUCATION, DR. CHUNG POINTED OUT THAT HOME OWNERSHIP +FOSTERS A SENSE OF BELONGING AND REINFORCES SOCIAL STABILITY+.

+IN A PLACE LIKE HONG KONG WHERE MANY PEOPLE LOOK AT IT AS A TRANSIENT CENTRE, HE SAID, THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE FOR OUR CONTINUED SURVIVAL.+

HOWEVER, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE DUE NOTICE OF THE SUGGESTION MADE BY MR. JOHN BREMRIDGE ON MARKETING THE PROJECT.

DR. CHUNG SAID HONG KONG'S FUTURE WELL-BEING ALSO DEPENDED ON THE ONLY RESOURCE IT HAS MANPOWER.

HE EMPHASISED THAT HONG KONG MUST FULLY DEVELOP THIS RESOURCE THROUGH MORE INTEGRATED EDUCATION PLANNING AND MORE BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.

/IN HIGHLIGHTING

2