XN000022-1988-04-21 — Page 7

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1988

MRS CHOW SAID THAT LITTLE PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE SINCE 1981 WHEN THE THEN SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED WHOLE-DAY SCHOOL AS POLICY.

SEVEN YEARS HAD

PASSED, BUT THE

OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE STILL BI-SESSIONAL AND CONVERSIONS HAD ONLY TAKEN PLACE WHEN SPARE CAPACITY IN SCHOOLS HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED.

TO MRS CHOW, THE FACT THAT ONLY 0.3 PER CENT OF THE EDUCATION PROVISION THIS YEAR WAS EARMARKED FOR THIS PURPOSE REFLECTED A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM AND WILL FOR THE POLICY.

"THE TIME HAS COME FOR MORE POSITIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS VERY WORTHWHILE POLICY, AND I HOPE A TIMETABLE WILL BE DRAWN UP FOR IT VERY SOON, SHE SAID.

ON THE POINT OF IMPROVING PRIVATE SCHOOLS, MRS CHOW SAID THAT SINCE A NUMBER OF NEEDS HAD BEEN ANTICIPATED EARLIER, THE GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE WORKED TOWARDS THE REALISATION OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS THIS YEAR.

IT COULD HAVE CONSULTED THE EDUCATION COMMISSION ON THE ISSUE AND ASKED THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES TO MAKE PROPOSALS WELL IN ADVANCE.

TURNING ΤΟ ΤΑΧΑΤΙΟΝ, MRS CHOW SAID SHE HOPED FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD MAKE A FIRM COMMITMENT ΤΟ SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED COUPLES IN 1989.

THAT THE

INTRODUCE

MRS CHOW SPOKE AGAINST THE INTRODUCTION OF A GENERAL SALES TAX.

THERE IS

"AT PRESENT, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY SIMPLE SYSTEM, AND NO NEED TO COMPLICATE IT, SHE SAID.

F

"BUT MORE IMPORTANT, WE ARE FACING A SURPLUS OF MORE BILLION THIS YEAR.

THAN $10

MRS CHOW MAINTAINED THAT HONG KONG DID NOT NEED ANY NEW TAX FOR SOME TIME. ON THE CONTRARY, SHE MENTIONED THREE AREAS WHERE LESS REVENUE SHOULD BE RAISED.

SHE PROPOSED THAT STAMP DUTY SHOULD BE WAIVED FOR ALL HOME PURCHASES UNDER $500,000 TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE HOME OWNERSHIP AND ΤΟ ASSIST THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP.

HOWEVER, SHE SAID THAT SAFEGUARDS HAD TO BE BUILT IN TO ENSURE THAT CONCESSIONS WERE ONLY EXTENDED TO HOME PURCHASES AND NOT SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES.

MRS CHOW ALSO OBJECTED TO THE IMPOSITION OF TAX ON SOFT DRINKS AND BEVERAGE, AND ADVOCATED A REDUCTION IN THE AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX TO BRING ITS LEVEL INTO LINE WITH OTHER AIRPORTS IN THE REGION.

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