XN000022-1984-03-28 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984

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ANOTHER WAS TO INCREASE THE TAX ON PETROL AFTER HAVING FIRST TAKEN CARE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEEDS, MR CHEN SAID.

CONCEDING THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE THE BURDEN ON MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE 'SANDWICHED' CLASS, HE SAID, +BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY. AT LEAST THEY HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR PAYING MORE FOR THE PETROL IN ORDER TO USE THEIR OWN CARS.+

+SINCE TAXATION IS PROPOSED AS A FISCAL MEASURE TO RELIEVE CONGESTION OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, I SEE NO VALID ARGUMENT AGAINST ADDITIONAL TAX ON PETROL AS A GENERAL MEANS OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE ROAD CONGESTION, HE ADDED.

HE SAID THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY COULD BE CONGRATULATED FOR HAVING LIGHTENED THE BURDEN OF THE LESS WELL-OFF AND HIS ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT HE HAD DONE SO AT THE EXPENSE OF THE 'SANDWICHED' CLASS.

+HE WOULD HAVE ACHIEVED PERFECTLY THE ROBIN HOOD IMAGE HAD HE DONE SO AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WELL-OFF,+ MR CHEN CONCLUDED.

PEOPLE WANT SAY IN SHAPING FUTURE: DUNN

*****

HON LYDIA DUNN CALLED FOR THE AGREEMENT NOW BEING NEGOTIATED BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA TO TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS, THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE FEARS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SHE OBSERVED THAT THOUGH THE GENERAL ECONOMIC PICTURE WAS ENCOURAGING, IT DID NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE WAS RELAXED AND HAPPY ABOUT THE FUTURE.

SHE SAID. +OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED A GREAT DEAL IN RECENT YEARS, IT IS NOT JUST MORE PROSPEROUS. IT IS YOUNGER AND MORE EDUCATED. IT IS ONLY NATURAL (BUT A GREAT CHANGE FROM THE PAST) THAT PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM AND THEY ALSO WANT TO HAVE A SAY IN SHAPING THAT FUTURE.+

+THE REASON IS SELF-EVIDENT: THEY ARE SOMEWHAT FEARFUL OF THE FUTURE. IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE FEARFUL THAT THE FREEDOMS WHICH THEY HAVE, FOR SO LONG, BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY AND TAKE FOR GRANTED MAY BE ERODED.+

SHE SAID THAT PEOPLE VALUED THE IR FREEDOMS AND LIFE STYLE WHICH FLOWED FROM THOSE FREEDOMS AND THEREFORE SOUGHT CREDIBLE ASSURANCES AS TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE FREEDOMS.

/+IF THESE

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