XN000022-1993-05-05 — Page 41

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993

WILL

WHEN A VEHICLE IS SOLD, THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THE PURCHASER SIGN A FORM SETTING OUT THE PUBLISHED RETAIL PRICE AND THE ACTUAL PURCHASE PRICE OF THE VEHICLE.

THE PURCHASER WILL THUS BE FORMALLY ADVISED OF THE SHARE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE ATTRIBUTABLE TO TAX.

THE FORM INDICATING THE DECLARED VALUE WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE COMMISSIONER.

BILL

TO ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM OPERATES FAIRLY, MR YEUNG SAID THE WOULD EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER OR PUBLIC OFFICERS AUTHORISED BY HIM TO SEARCH FOR AND EXAMINE RECORDS RELATING TO THE IMPORTATION AND SALE OF MOTOR VEHICLES.

THE

NOTING THAT THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF THE FRT SYSTEM, HE SAID: "IT IS NOT TO RAISE ADDITIONAL REVENUE.

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SINCE THE PUBLISHED RETAIL PRICE WILL INCLUDE NOT ONLY THE VALUE BUT ALSO OTHER INCIDENTAL COSTS AND THE PROFIT ELEMENT, MAINTAIN THE PRESENT RATES OF FRT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE COST OF CARS TO ORDINARY PURCHASERS.

CIF ΤΟ

"WE HAVE THEREFORE DEVISED A NEW SCHEDULE OF RATES, BASED ON A SLIDING SCALE OF PUBLISHED RETAIL PRICES.

"THIS SCHEDULE IS DESIGNED SO THAT THE EFFECT OF THE NEW TAKEN AS A WHOLE, WILL BE ALMOST 'REVENUE-NEUTRAL', MR

LEGISLATION, YEUNG SAID.

WHILE THE BILL WILL THEREFORE GENERALLY BE 'REVENUE-NEUTRAL' + THE GOVERNMENT WILL IN FUTURE BE ABLE TO RAISE OR LOWER THE RATES SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE, WHETHER FOR FISCAL OR TRANSPORT POLICY REASONS, WITH GREATER CONFIDENCE THAT THE INTENDED EFFECT OF ANY SUCH ADJUSTMENT WILL BE ACHIEVED, AND THAT THE PLANNED AMOUNT

OF REVENUE WILL BE COLLECTED, HE ADDED.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL ISSUE A PRACTICE NOTE TO GIVE GUIDANCE TO VEHICLE DISTRIBUTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON HOW THE DETAILED PROVISIONS OF THE LAW WILL BE INTERPRETED AND ENFORCED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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CONTAINER VEHICLES PARKING ON FOOTPATHS NOT ALLOWED

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PARKING CONTAINER VEHICLES ON FOOTPATHS IS NOT ALLOWED AND THE

POLICE WILL TAKE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WHEN THIS OCCURS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW WONG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

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"ro DETER SUCH ILLEGAL PARKING AND TO SAFEGUARD PEDESTRIANS, RAILINGS OR BOLLARDS MAY BE ERECTED ON THE FOOTPATHS,' HE SAID.

/MR LEUNG