XN000022-1981-11-25 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1981

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LIGHT SCHOOL BUS MODELS STUDIED

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THE VARIOUS MODELS OF VEHICLES TO BE RECLASSIFIED AS PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES FOR SCHOOL PASSENGERS, HAVE BEEN EXAMINED AND TYPE APPROVALS HAVE BEEN GRANTED, SAID THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN ARMSTRONG-WRIGHT TODAY.

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REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER WONG, HE SAID THAT THE PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR THE RE-REGISTRATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL VEHICLES INVOLVED, STARTED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

APPLICATIONS IN HAND SHOULD BE CLEARED WITHIN TWO TO THREE WEEKS. MORE APPLICATIONS CAN BE EXPECTED AND THESE WILL BE DEALT WITH AS THEY ARE RECEIVED,

TAX RELIEF SOUGHT FOR DONATIONS TO UC *****

A BILL INTENDED TO PROVIDE RELIEF FROM TAX AND ESTATE DUTY ON DONATIONS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE URBAN COUNCIL (DONATIONS) BILL 1981, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE, A PERSON WHO DONATES MONEY TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR A CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE GRANTED TAX RELIEF, BUT THIS DOES NOT APPLY IF THE DONATION IS MADE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ALBEIT FOR A SIMILAR PURPOSE.

UNDER THE ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE, HE SAID, ESTATE DUTY IS HOT PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF PROPERTY DEVISED OR BEQUEATHED BY A DECEASED PERSON TO A CHARITALBE INSTITUTION OR TRUST OF A PUBLIC CHARACTER, OR TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE, HOWEVER, IF THE DEVICE OF REQUEST IS YADE TO THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.

THE PRESENT TREATMENT OF DONATIONS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND TO THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE AND THE ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE IS THUS INCONSISTENT, AND AMENDMENTS TO THE TAC ORDINANCES ARE THEREFORE PROPOSED TO RECTIFY THE INCONSISTENCY, HE SAID.

+CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL AMENDS THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINACE IY INCLUDING DONATIONS OF MONEY TO THE UREAN COUNCIL FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES IN THE DEFINITION OF APPROVED CHARITABLE DONATIONS.

+ IT WILL APPLY TO THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT COMMENCING APRIL 1, 1981 AND TO SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF ASSESSMENT,+ HE SAID.

+CLAUSES 2 AND 3 AMEND THE ESTATE DUTY ORDINANCE BY EXCLUDING FROM CHARGE TO ESTATE DUTY A DECEASED PERSON'S PROPERTY WHICH IS DEVISED OR BEQUEATHED TO THE UREAN COUNCIL FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

+ TILL APPLY TO ESTATES OF PERSONS DYING ON OR AFTER THE CATE OF ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ADDED.

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