XN000022-1990-03-07 — Page 40

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PASSENGER EMBARKATION AND BERTHING FEES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1990

SIR PIERS PROPOSED TO INCREASE THE PASSENGER PAYABLE BY THOSE DEPARTING FROM THE MACAU AND CHINA FROM $17 TO $19, APPROXIMATELY IN LINE WITH INFLATION.

EMBARKATION FEE

FERRY TERMINALS

AS THE FEE WAS LAST RAISED IN OCTOBER 1989, THE NEXT INCREASE WOULD TAKE EFFECT AS FROM OCTOBER 1, 1990.

HE FURTHER PROPOSED TO INCREASE BERTHING FEES BY 15 PER CENT FROM APRIL 1, 1990.

THE TOTAL ADDITIONAL REVENUE ARISING FROM THESE INCREASES WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $20 MILLION IN 1990-91.

OTHER CHARGES

SIR PIERS SAID A NUMBER OF OTHER CHARGES, INCLUDING THOSE IN RELATION TO SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, WERE SCHEDULED FOR REVIEW IN 1990.

FROM THESE SOURCES. HE EXPECTED ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF 9510 MILLION IN 1990-91.

CONCESSIONS IN PERSONAL TAXATION

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PIERS JACOBS, TODAY PROPOSED TO ZERO-RATE THE CLAWBACK ON PERSONAL TAXATION ALLOWANCES, INCREASE SOME ALLOWANCES, AND REDUCE THE RATES OF TAX FOR THE FIRST TWO MARGINAL RATE BANDS FOR SALARIES TAX AND PERSONAL ASSESSMENT.

PRESENTING HIS BUDGET. SIR PIERS PROPOSED THE FOLLOWING CONCESSIONS FOR PERSONAL TAXATION:

FIRST, TO ZERO-RATE THE CLAWBACK ON ALLOWANCES.

"THIS MEANS THAT ALL ELIGIBLE TAXPAYERS WILL BE ENTITLED TO THE FULL ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR INCOME LEVELS, AND EFFECTIVELY INCREASES THE BASIC AND MARRIED PERSON'S ALLOWANCES FROM $32,000 AND $66,000 TO 939,000 $80,000 RESPECTIVELY.

AND

"MIDDLE-INCOME TAXPAYERS STAND ΤΟ BENEFIT MOST. FOR THIS GROUP, THE TAX PAYABLE WILL BE REDUCED BY UP TO $1,750 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND $3,500 FOR A MARRIED COUPLE," HE SAID.

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