XN000022-1984-02-06 — Page 6

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1984

5

ON THE QUESTION OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, MR BRAY EXPLAINED THAT IN HONG KONG THE GOVERNMENT DID INTERVENE AND REGULATE, BUT IT DID SO TO SEE FAIR PLAY, TO MAKE SURE BANKS CAN PAY THEIR DEPOSITORS, THAT COMMERCIAL SWINDLERS ARE CAUGHT, THAT INDUSTRY HAS A GOOD BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NOT ONLY TO SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF FACTORIES BUT OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FOR ITS WORKERS.+

+WHAT WE DO NOT DO IS USE TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO BOLSTER FLAGGING INDUSTRIES OR SAVE ENTREPRENEURS FROM THEIR MISTAKES, + HE SAID.

+TAXES ARE LOW-SALARY TAX REACHES A MAXIMUM OF 15 PER CENT AND THERE IS NO TAX ON DIVIDENDS. BUT THERE ARE NO TAX ALLOWANCES FOR LIFE INSURANCE OR HOUSE PURCHASE OR ANYTHING NOT DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH GENERATING THE SALARY.

+NOR ARE THERE DEDUCTIONS FOR NATIONAL INSURANCE. WE THINK PEOPLE SHOULD SPEND THEIR OWN MONEY AS THEY WISH RATHER THAN AS THE GOVERNMENT THINKS IS GOOD FOR THEM.+

HONG KONG HAS A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE AS WELL AS A SUBSTANTIAL PRIVATE MEDICAL SECTOR- AND LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH HERE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD AND GREATER THAN IN BRITAIN. EDUCATION IS FREE AND COMPULSORY UP TO THE AGE OF 15 AND VERY HIGHLY SUBSIDISED BEYOND THAT. AND ALSO. 40 PER CENT OF HONG KONG PEOPLE LIVE IN VERY HIGHLY SUBSIDISED HOUSING PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AND 35 000 FLATS WERE BEING BUILT A YEAR, HE SAID.

MR BRAY SAID THAT WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THESE AREAS OF SOCIAL SERVICE, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED THAT IT WAS ONLY BY ALLOWING ENTREPRENEURS FULL FREEDOM THAT ECONOMIC GROWTH CAN BE GENERATED.

+AND THIS WE CERTAINLY HAVE DONE, HE SAID.

NINTH PHASE OF NEW 1.D. CARD SCHEME ON THE WAY

*****

THE NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE SCHEME WILL ENTER ITS NINTH PHASE NEXT MONDAY (FEBRUARY 13), THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

DURING THIS PHASE, MEN BORN IN 1950 AND 1951 WILL HAVE FOUR WEEKS TO APPLY FOR NEW 1.D. CARDS.

A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, +APPLICANTS MUST BRING ALONG THE IR OLD IDENTITY CARDS WHEN THEY VISIT ANY OF THE EIGHT NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE OFFICES BETWEEN 8.00 AM AND 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.

/+NEW IDENTITY