XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 22

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

"THESE

AND

MIDDLE PEOPLE ARE MAINLY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

ARE OFTEN OVERLOADED MANAGEMENT. THEY ARE THE SANDWICHED CLASS, WHO IN OUR SOCIAL AND TAX POLICIES. IT IS ONLY FAIR THAT THEY SHOULD BENEFIT OCCASIONALLY," SHE SAID.

"FURTHERMORE, WORKING WIVES WHO EARN A SMALL SALARY

ENCOURAGE

THEM ΤΟ

ALSO

WILL ALSO

JOIN OUR WORK BE BENEFITTED. THIS MAY SERVE TO FORCE AND, IN TURN, ASSIST TO ALLEVIATE THE LABOUR SHORTAGE PROBLEM."

MEMBER OBJECTS TO SEPARATE TAXATION BILL

THE HON NELLIE FONG VOTED AGAINST THE BILL ON SEPARATE TAXATION

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR MARRIED COUPLES IN

TODAY (WEDNESDAY), SAYING IT UNNECESSARILY COMPLICATED TAX LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG.

SPEAKING IN

THE

RESUMED

DEBATE ON

THE

REVENUE

INLAND

OF (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL, MRS FONG SAID THE BILL WAS A SAD EXAMPLE

THEMSELVES INTO HOW POLITICAL FORCES COULD GENERATE MOMENTUM AND GET

WAS WHICH UP A POSITION

SUPPORTING SOMETHING

WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO UNNECESSARY AND NOT SOUGHT BY THE VERY PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM IT.

ENDED WHERE THEY

SHE SAID THE BILL WAS REALLY NOT A BILL TO REDUCE OF TAXATION ON MARRIED WOMEN AS WAS POPULARLY BELIEVED.

"RATHER,

IS IT

A BILL TO DISTINGUISH INSIGNIFICANT INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF MARRIED WOMEN FROM RIGHTS OF THE FAMILY UNIT.

"THIS IS BECAUSE THE SUPPOSED INEQUALITIES WERE USED TO JUSTIFY THE CHANGE, NO LONGER EXIST,

MRS FONG

SAID

THE

COST

THAT

THE

BILL

SOME

THE IMPACT

RELATIVELY THE COLLECTIVE

11

IN TAXATION WHICH SHE SAID.

WOULD ADD

TO

THE

OPERATING COSTS OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT WAS SUBSTANTIAL.

THE

COST

COULD

PROBABLY

BE JUSTIFIED EQUITABLE

WAS THAT

IF THE BILL WERE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TAX

DONE

IN ALREADY

1988

NECESSARY TO BRING ABOUT A MORE

BURDEN. BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. WITH THE INTRODUCION OF THE WORKING WIFE ALLOWANCE.

JUSTIFIED HAD THERE BEEN A SHE SAID THE COST COULD ALSO BE

CONFIDENTIALITY PUBLIC DEMAND FOR WIVES TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAINTAIN

BY HAVING ABOUT THEIR INCOME AND TAXATION MATTER FROM THEIR HUSBANDS THE RIGHT TO PREPARE THEIR OWN TAX RETURNS,

THIS, NOR HAVE

I HEARD THE PUBLIC CALL FOR IT,

"HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT SEEN THE SOCIAL NEED FOR

SHE SAID.

"I

MRS FONG SAID THE REAL TAX IMPACT AND THE FINANCIAL THE BILL HAD NOT BEEN FULLY EXPLAINED.

IMPACT OF

/SHE SAID