XN000022-1985-03-27 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 1985

SIR PHILIP SAID THE OPPORTUNITY HAD ALSO BEEN TAKEN TO TRANSFER RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE COLLATION OF COMMUNITY INFORMATION, LIAISON WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE ORGANISATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS, MANAGEMENT OF TRUST FUNDS AND PROPERTIES, AND MANAGEMENT OF CHINESE TEMPLES AND CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERIES FROM THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.

THE RESIDUE OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, WHICH INCLUDED POLICY MAINLY RELATING TO INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, CHINESE LANGUAGE, AS WELL AS REGISTRATION OF NEWSPAPERS AND PUBLICATIONS, GAMBLING AND PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT WOULD BE COMBINED WITH THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH TO FORM A NEW ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION BRANCH HEADED BY A SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION.

THE PRESENT HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, THE PRESENT COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH AND THE PRESENT RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN CEASE TO EXIST AS WOULD SUCH POSTS AS THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND DIRECTOR, COUNCILS AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH.

HE SAID THAT IN ORDER TO EFFECT THESE CHANGES, CERTAIN STATUTORY POWERS HAD TO BE TRANSFERRED TO, AND FROM, THE VARIOUS OFFICERS CONCERNED AND THESE WERE SET OUT IN THE MOTION AND THE ATTACHED SCHEDULES.

MOTIONS TO INCREASE FEES, DUTY, TAX DEFERRED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED THE DEFERMENT UNTIL TOMORROW OF MOTIONS BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, FOR INCREASES IN BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES, BETTING DUTY AND AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX TO COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1.

EXPLAINING HIS REQUEST FOR DEFERMENT, SIR JOHN SAID, IN THE BUDGET SPEECH I SAID THAT MY PROPOSALS FOR INCREASED BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES, BETTING DUTY AND AIR PASSENGER DEPARTURE TAX WERE DESIGNED TO COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1, AND THAT THE CHANGES WOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED BY WAY OF RESOLUTIONS UNDER THE RELEVANT ORDINANCES.

+THIS WOULD NECESSITATE THE PASSING OF THE RESOLUTION DURING THE COURSE OF THE RESUMED DEBATE, HE SAID.

/BOWEVER, IT