XN000022-1981-03-11 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1981

+THERE IS NO REAL JUSTIFICATION WHY THEY SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM ADMISSION TO THE BAR,+ HE ADDED.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL, THE HON JOHN SWAINE, DESCRIBED THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY THE BILL AS A NARROW ONE+. IT IS INTENDED TO BRING THE LAW RELATING TO THE ADMISSION OF BARRISTERS IN HONG KONG NEARER IN LINE WITH THAT RELATING TO THE ADMISSION OF SOLICITORS, HE POINTED OUT.

+THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE ARE LIKELY TO BE VERY SMALL INDEED, AND THE OBJECT OF THE CHANGE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, IS TO ENABLE SUCH CANDIDATES TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THE BARRISTER'S AND THE SOLICITOR'S PROFESSION, WHEREAS THEY WOULD NOW BE LIMITED TO THE SOLICITOR'S.

+1 UNDERSTAND FURTHER FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT THIS PRESENT CHANGE IS NOT INTENDED AS A SPRING-BOARD FOR THE FURTHER RELAXING OF THE RULES OF ADMISSION RELATING TO BARRISTERS, AND ALSO THAT THERE IS NO INTENTION THAT SUCH CANDIDATES WILL BE EXEMPT FROM THE COMPULSORY SERVING OF PUPILLAGE UNDER THE EXISTING RULES, MR SWAINE SAID.

PREVENZ

PHASING IN OF GENERAL RATE IN NT

***

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ADOPTED A MOTION GIVING EFFECT TO THE GENERAL RATE PERCENTAGE CHARGES FOR NEWLY ASSESSED AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HENRY CHING SAID EXISTING POLICY PROVIDES FOR THE PHASING IN OF THE GENERAL RATE CHARGE FOR EACH NEWLY ASSESSED AREA IN THE NEW TERRITORIES OVER A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS.

+

+THUS, HE EXPLAINED, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ASSESSMENT THE ACTUAL CHARGE APPLIED IS 50 PER CENT OF THE FULL GENERAL RATE CHARGE, IN THE SECOND YEAR 60 PER CENT, IN THE THIRD YEAR 70 PER CENT AND SO ON UNTIL THE FULL CHARGE IS APPLIED IN THE SIXTH YEAR.+

AS THE GENERAL RATE CHARGE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES IS 11 PER CENT, FOR 1981-82 THE CHARGE TO BE APPLIED TO AREAS F TO M (FOR THE IR SIXTH YEAR OF ASSESSMENT) IS THE FULL CHARGE OF 11 PER CENT. FOR AREA N (FOR ITS FIFTH YEAR OF ASSESSMENT) THE CHARGE IS 90 PER CENT OF THE FULL CHARGE, OR 10 PER CENT, AND FOR AREAS P TO S (FOR THE IR SECOND YEAR OF ASSESSMENT) IT IS 60 PER CENT OF THE FULL CHARGE, OR 7 PER CENT.

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