XN000022-1979-01-24 — Page 9

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1979

INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979

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THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG WELCOMED THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1979 WHICH EXEMPTED FROM PROPERTY TAX, PREMISES OWNED AND OCCUPIED BY TRADE AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, CLUBS, CLANS, FAMILIES OR 'TONGS' AND NOT USED COMMERCIALLY, THE BILL WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+ IT IS A DEFINITE SIGN OF GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO ASSIST TRADE AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND ITS RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY AND COMMUNAL SPIRIT AS WELL AS LONG-STANDING TRADITIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. YEUNG SAID.

HE SAID THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL PARTICULARLY WELCOME THE BILL. THE CONCEPT OF PROPERTY TAX IS NEW TO THEM AND THEY SEE ANY REASON WHY THEIR 'KUNG. SORS',

'CHI TONGS' AND OTHER COMMUNAL BUILDINGS WHICH BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY AND DO NOT BEAR INCOME SHOULD BE CHARGEABLE TO TAX.

DELEGATION OF FINANCIAL POWERS

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ADOPTED A MOTION TO DELEGATE TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE AUTHORITY TO CHARGE TO GENERAL REVENUE A SUM EQUAL TO THAT BY WHICH RECEIPTS APPLIED AS APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID IS LESS, OR IS LIKELY TO BE LESS, THAN THE SUM SHOWN IN THE SCHEDULED TO THE APPROPRIATION BILL.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THE GROSS EXPENDITURE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE MAINTAINED WITHIN THE APPROVED PROVISIONS.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID SYSTEM IN 1976-77, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WERE INVITED IN THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL TO AUTHORISE THE APPLICATION OF CERTAIN RECEIPTS AS APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID OF THE GROSS EXPENDITURE ON THE SERVICES AND PURPOSES UNDER EACH HEAD OF EXPENDITURE IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL.

+HONOURABLE MEMBERS ARE ALSO INVITED TO AUTHORISE THE CHARGE TO GENERAL REVENUE OF A SUM EQUAL TO THE NET EXPENDITURE FOR EACH HEAD OF EXPENDITURE, THAT IS TO SAY, THE GROSS EXPENDITURE FOR THAT HEAD OF EXPENDITURE LESS RECEIPTS APPLIED AS APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID,+ HE SAID.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IN THE EVENT OF A SHORTFALL OCCURRING IN RECEIPTS APPLIED AS APPROPRIATIONS-IN-AID, HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS SHOULD EFFECT A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN GROSS EXPENDITURE IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT NET EXPENDITURE WAS NOT EXCEEDED.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THIS, AT TIMES, WAS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT SERIOUSLY DISRUPTING THE SERVICES PROVIDED, ADDING THAT THERE WAS AT PRESENT NO DELEGATED AUTHORITY FOR MAINTAINING THE LEVEL OF GROSS EXPENDITURE IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES.

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