XN000022-1977-12-07 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1977

PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION FOR NON-COMMERCIAL PRIVATE CLUBS

CONS IDERED

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THE HON. FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF DISPENSING WITH PROPERTY TAX ON BUILDINGS USED FOR PRIVATE RECREATION AND NOT FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. S.L. CHEN, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT HE WOULD CONSULT THE WORKING PARTY WHICH HAD BEEN EXAMINING FOR SOME TIME THE REPORT OF THE THIRD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE.

HE SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD RECOMMENDED THAT CLUBS NOT DEEMED TO BE CARRYING ON A BUSINESS SHOULD BE TREATED ON A SIMILAR BASIS TO OWNERS OF PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND SHOULD BE EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX.

+CLUBS WHICH ARE DEEMED TO BE CARRYING ON A BUSINESS ARE LIABLE TO PROF ITS TAX BUT ARE ALREADY, IN EFFECT EXEMPT FROM PROPERTY TAX, HE EXPLAINED.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH MR. CHEN DID NOT GIVE ANY REASON FOR HIS SUGGESTION, HE WOULD STILL CONSIDER IT.

STREET LIGHTING PLANS FOR CHUNG HOM KOK

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STREET LIGHTING WILL BE EXTENDED FROM REPULSE BAY TO THE CHUNG HOM KOK ROAD JUNCTION FROM JUNE NEXT YEAR, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. MCDONALD WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG, ABOUT STREET LIGHTING ON ROADS LEADING TO THE STANLEY AND TAI TAM AREA.

IN ADDITION TO THE STREET LIGHTING BETWEEN REPULSE BAY AND THE CHUNG HOM KOK ROAD JUNCTION, MR. MCDONALD SAID A PROPOSAL HAD BEEN MADE TO EXTEND THE SYSTEM TO STANLEY VILLAGE ROAD. HE SAID THE PROPOSAL HAD BEEN SUBMITTED FOR INCLUSION IN THE 1978/79 STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMME, AND IF APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE, THESE WORKS WOULD BE PUT IN HAND IN OCTOBER NEXT YEAR.

MR. MCDONALD SAID IT WAS NOT PRESENT POLICY TO LIGHT RURAL ROADS WHERE LITTLE DEVELOPMENT EXISTS UNLESS TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS CAN JUSTIFY THE PROVISION.

THEREFORE, HE SAID, THERE ARE NO PLANS AT PRESENT TO INSTALL LIGHTING ON THE TAI TAM ROAD AS THE AREA BETWEEN CHAI WAN ROAD AND STANLEY VILLAGE ROAD IS LARGELY UNDEVELOPED.

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