XN000022-1983-04-14 — Page 13

THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 1983

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FULL SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN UNSUITABLE

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FULL SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN WAS NOT SUITABLE IN HONG KONG'S FISCAL AND SOCIAL CLIMATE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+MOREOVER, WE SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A TOTAL REVERSAL OF LONG-EXISTING POLICIES AT THE PRESENT TIME, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.

THE ESTIMATED COST TO REVENUE OF SEPARATE TAXATION WOULD BE OF THE ORDER OF $285 MILLION IN THE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, HE POINTED OUT.

+SINCE I CAN CERTAINLY NOT FOREGO THAT SUM I SHOULD BE OBLIGED TO RECOUP IT ELSEWHERE.

+WERE I TO DO SO FROM OTHER SALARIES TAXPAYERS, THE EFFECT WOULD BE AN ACROSS THE BOARD INCREASE IN TAX BILLS OF SOME 13 PER CENT,+ MR BREMRIDGE EXPLAINED.

*WITH THIS BACKGROUND AND SUBJECT TO EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADVICE, I INTEND TO INTRODUCE INTO THIS COUNCIL THE REFORM MEASURES I PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET SPEECH, HE SAID.

MR BREMRIDGE NOTED THAT OF THE 23 UNOFFICIALS WHO SPOKE AT THE BUDGET DEBATE, NO LESS THAN 19 HAD NO COMMENT TO MAKE ON THIS +ALLEGEDLY BURNING ISSUE+ HIS NEW PROPOSAL FOR THE VOLUNTARY SEPARATE ASSESSMENT OF MARRIED WOMEN.

MR BREMRIDGE SAID HE TOOK IT THAT +SILENCE MEANS ACQUIESCENCE+,

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