XN000022-1988-04-20 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988

G

HE SAID THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEE PROBLEM WAS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSUE, BUT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT SHOULD ASSUME THE MAJOR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN CARING FOR THE 10,000 REFUGEES NOW IN HONG KONG.

"THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD START NEGOTIATING WITH THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR HALF OF ALL THE 1988-89 EXPENDITURES TO BE SPENT BY HONG KONG ON VIETNAMESE REFUGEES. SHOULD A FOURTH CLOSED CAMP BE BUILT, HALF OF THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.

MR CHEONG-LEEN ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE COST OF MANAGING SUCI CLOSED CAMPS WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SECURITY AND EFFICIENCY, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE WITH GIVEN TO TRANSFERRING THE MANAGEMENT TO THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THE SUPPORT OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES.

ON HOUSING, HE SAID AS HONG KONG WAS FEELING THE EFFECTS OF A BRAIN DRAIN, IT SHOULD BE THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AND WORTHWHILE FOR MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS TO STAY IN HONG KONG.

DEDUCTIBLE

+

ALLOWANCE

"ONE FURTHER STEP COULD BE A ONE-OFF TAX OF UP TO $50,000 ON ANY DOWN PAYMENT ON THE PURCHASE OF THE FIRST HOME BY ANY HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD, HE SAID.

CONCESSIONS ON

MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID HE DOUBTED WHETHER THE NEW STAMP DUTY ALONE WOULD BE AN INCENTIVE FOR A PROFESSIONAL TO PURCHASE A HOME IN HONG KONG RATHER THAN EMIGRATE.

ON CULTURE, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID ENCOURAGE MUSIC TRAINING AND APPRECIATION TRAINING AWARDS FOR ARTISTS.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AND CONSIDER OVERSEAS

HE SAID THAT AS REGARDS VISUAL ARTS, "WE ARE STILL PATIENTLY AWAITING" THE GOVERNMENT'S WORKING PARTY TO SHOW THE WAY FORWARD.

WORKING SPOUSE ALLOWANCE MORE EQUITABLE

A WORKING SPOUSE ALLOWANCE IS

TAXATION, SCHEME THAN SEPARATE

THE

A SIMPLER AND MORE EQUITABLE THE HON ANDREW WONG SAID IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR WONG SAID HE WELCOMED

SPEAKING DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE, THE INTRODUCTION OF A WORKING WIFE'S ALLOWANCE,

/BUT HE

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