XN000022-1980-05-28 — Page 17

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 1980

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CONCESSIONARY STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES

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THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH RAISES THE LIMIT FOR THE CONCESSIONARY AD VALOREM RATE OF DUTY OF ONE PER CENT IN RESPECT OF CONVEYANCES ON SALE AND VOLUNTARY DISPOSITIONS OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCİL TODAY.

THE PROPOSAL, TO RAISE THE LIMIT FROM $175 000 TO $250 000, HAS ALREADY BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE FEBRUARY 28 BY AN ORDER UNDER THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE, AND WAS MADE IN RECOGNITION OF THE MUCH HIGHER PRICES OF DOMESTIC FLATS AT PRESENT.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL TODAY, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVÉ SAID THE ESTIMATED COST TO THE REVENUE IN 1980-81 WOULD BE $67 MILLION. DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

FACILITIES FOR CAR USERS AT MTR STATIONS

FACILITIES FOR TAXIS AND PRIVATE CARS TO SET DOWN OR PICK UP PASSENGERS HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED AT THREE MTR STATIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES DISCLOSED IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE FACILITIES ARE AT ADMIRALTY, KOWLOON TONG AND CHOI HUNG STATIONS AND THEY ARE ALSO BEING PLANNED AT KWAI FONG AND TSUEN WAN STATIONS ON THE TSUEN WAN EXTENSION, HE SAID.

+A SURVEY IS BEING CONDUCTED ON THE EFFECT OF THE MTR ON TAXI OPERATIONS AND, IF THIS SHOWS A DEMAND FOR PICK-UP AND SET-DOWN POINTS AT MORE STATIONS. THEY WILL BE PROVIDED WHERE SPACE IS AVAILABLE, MR JONES ADDED.

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