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THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1978
MR. WONG ALSO CRITICISED THE CLAW-BACK SYSTEM, WHEREBY FOR ANY INCOME IN EXCESS OF $12,500, A SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE OF THE ALLOWANCE WOULD BE CLAWED BACK.
HE SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S INCREASE OF THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCE FROM $10,000 TO $12,500, WAS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE FACT THAT THE MINIMUM ANNUAL COST OF SUBSISTENCE FOR A PERSON IS $12,500.
+WHY THEN FOR EVERY EXTRA DOLLAR OF INCOME EARNED BY THE MIDDLE INCOME RANGE PEOPLE, A PERCENTAGE OF THE SUPPLEMENTED ALLOWANCE ($12,500) HAS TO BE CLAWED BACK? ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT FOR EVERY EXTRA DOLLAR THEY EARN, THEIR COST OF LIVING WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE LOWERED TO THE LEVEL OF THE BASIC PERSONAL ALLOWANCE?+ MR. WONG ASKED.
HE ADDED THAT TO THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP, THIS SYSTEM MEANS EXTRA BURDEN AND WORKS AGAINST THEM.+
+ IN THIS CONNECTION, I THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STRAIGHT FORWARDLY RAISE THE BASIC PERSONAL ALLOWANCE TO A MORE REASONABLE LEVEL AND ABOLISH THE PRESENT CLAW-EACK SYSTEM,+ HE SAID.
MR. WONG ALSO SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDER REINTRODUCING DEPENDENT PARENTS' ALLOWANCE +IN DEFERENCE TO POPULAR WISH.+
AS REGARDS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S REMARK THAT AN INCREASE OF WATER CHARGES HAD TO BE PUT BACK, MR. WONG SAID THIS WARRANTED SECOND THOUGHT BY GOVERNMENT. ACTUALLY. HE SAID, HE CANNOT AGREE MORE TO FREEZING WATER CHARGES AT THE PRESENT LEVEL FOREVER.+
HE SAID: +1T IS GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATION TO SUPPLY THE DRINKING WATER WE NEED. AND, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF INDUSTRY, ANY INCREASE IN WATER CHARGES WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS ON THE ALREADY HARD HIT TEXTILE AND DYEING INDUSTRIES.+
MR. WONG ALSO SAID THE QUESTION OF REVISION OF WATER CHARGES PROMPTED HIM TO DOUBT THE EFFICIENCY OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
HE SAID THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS REPEATEDLY HINTED AT THE INCREASE. +1T FOLLOWS THAT THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED (ESPECIALLY THOSE CONCERNED WITH COMPUTER) SHOULD HAVE MADE PREPARATIONS FOR YEARS. ONE FAILS TO UNDERSTAND WHY THE WORK IS STILL OUTSTANDING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.+
MR. WONG ADDED: IN A CASE INVOLVING REVENUE COLLECTION, THE EFFICIENCY SHOWN BY THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED IS YET SO LOW THAT ONE CANNOT HELP WONDERING WHAT IT WILL BE WHEN THE NATURE OF WORK DOES NOT GENERATE REVENUE BUT IS PURELY PROVISION OF SERVICE.+
HE RECOMMENDED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONDUCT A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE EFFICIENCY OF ALL DEPARTMENTS +TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY IS USED TO THEIR DEST ADVANTAGE.+
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