XN000022-1993-05-26 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1993

INDEPENDENT PANEL APPOINTED TO REVIEW GOVERNOR'S TAX POSITION

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AN INDEPENDENT PANEL COMPRISING THREE RESPECTED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO REVIEW THE GOVERNOR'S TAX POSITION.

THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE PANEL ARE TO ADVISE ON WHETHER THE GOVERNOR SHOULD BE LIABLE TO PAY SALARIES TAX IN HONG KONG, HAVING REGARD TO THE LAW GOVERNING HIS TAX POSITION, THE TERMS OF HIS CONTRACT OF APPOINTMENT AS GOVERNOR AND THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OUTLINING THE RECENT CHANGES TO THE QUEEN'S TAX POSITION IN UK, SIR DAVID SAID.

THE PANEL MEMBERS ARE SIR SIDNEY GORDON, SIR Q W LEE AND MR ANDREW 80.

"THE PANEL HAS BEEN ASKED TO COMPLETE ITS WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE MADE PUBLIC," THE CHIEF SECRETARY ADDED.

WHARF FORMALLY GRANTED PAY-TV LICENCE

MEETING

YESTERDAY SHOULD BE

THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL DECIDED AT ITS (TUESDAY) THAT THE 12-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION TELEVISION LICENCE FORMALLY GRANTED TO WHARF CABLE LIMITED.

THE LICENCE WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JUNE 1

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THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL GAVE APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE ON FEBRUARY 9 TO THE ISSUE OF A LICENCE TO WHARF CABLE LTD SUBJECT TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE TELEVISION (AMENDMENT) BILL AND CONSULTATION WITH THE CHINESE.

THE BILL WAS ENACTED AND CAME INTO OPERATION ON APRIL 2.

A COPY OF THE DRAFT LICENCE WAS PASSED TO THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP IN FEBRUARY 1993.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE CHINESE SIDE OF THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP ON MAY 20 OF THEIR ENDORSEMENT OF THE GRANT OF LICENCE HAS PAVED THE WAY FOR THE ISSUE OF THE LICENCE.

ARRANGEMENTS FOR A CEREMONY TO HAND OVER THE LICENCE ΤΟ WHARF CABLE LIMITED ARE BEING MADE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND ARE DELIGHTED BY RECENT DEVELOPMENTS. WE WHARF CABLE ΤΟ FACILITATE COMMENCEMENT SCHEDULED DATE OF OCTOBER 1993."

CULTURE BRANCH SAID: "WE ARE ALREADY WORKING WITH OF THEIR SERVICE BY THE

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