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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1987
HE NOTED THE PROJECTED GROWTH RATE OF GDP FOR 1987-88 MIGHT WELL TURN OUT TO BE SLIGHTLY CONSERVATIVE BUT WARNED THAT THE EXISTENCE OF EXTERNAL UNCERTAINTIES CALLED FOR MORE VIGILANCE ÎN THE HOME FRONT WITH REGARD TO DOMESTIC ECONOMY.
MR CHEONG ALSO EMPHASISED THE NEED TO MAINTAIN AN ENVIRONMENT OF ECONOMIC STABILITY WHICH WOULD BE CONDUCIVE TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS IN HONG KONG.
HE SAID THAT POLITICS IN HONG KONG SHOULD NOT TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE WORK TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE AND IT COULD NOT TAKE THE SAME DIMENSION AS IN OTHER INDEPENDENT COUNTRIES.
ELABORATING ON THIS, MR CHEONG REITERATED THAT PARTY POLITICS AND ADVERSARIAL POLITICS WERE DEFINITELY NOT CONDUCIVE TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE MAJORITY OF THE HONG KONG PEOPLE.
HE ARGUED THAT IN A SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG WHICH WAS VERY YOUNG IN ITS EXPOSURE TO POLITICS, THE PLAYING OF ADVERSARIAL POLITICS AND THE CONSTANT EMPLOYMENT OF PRESSURISING AND CONFRONTATIONAL TACTICS INVARIABLY HAD A GREATER RISK OF BREEDING INSTABILITY IN THE SOCIETY.
DRAWING ON HIS EXPERIENCES FROM PARTICIPATING IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS, HE POINTED OUT THAT NO NEGOTIATION COULD EVER BE SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED IF MEGAPHONE TACTICS WERE DEPLOYED ALL THE TIME+.
HE THEREFORE APPEALED TO ALL POLITICAL ASPIRANTS IN HONG KONG TO +THINK VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE EMBARK ING ON THE USE OF NON- PRODUCTIVE REBEL ROUSING TACTICS BECAUSE THE END RESULT WOULD MORE LIKELY THAN NOT LEAD HONG KONG TO A MORE ADVERSE SITUATION+.
FAIR SHARE OF TAX FOR EVERYONE
*****
DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT HER CONCEPT OF A GOOD BUDGET WAS THAT PROPOSALS TO RAISE REVENUE SHOULD COVER ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURE BY ENSURING THAT EVERYONE PAID A FAIR SHARE OF TAX, EXCEPT FOR THE VERY POOR.
+IN CONSIDERING WHAT IS FAIR, WE RENDER THOSE WHO EARN MORE PAY PROPORTIONATELY MORE TAX, WITHOUT SUPPRESSING THE INCENTIVE TO WORK HARD,+ DR IP SAID DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
/SHE ADDED
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