XN000022-1994-11-23 — Page 49

ANSWER

MR PRESIDENT,

32

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994

(A)

FROM THE

FAR.

WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FORMAL PROPOSALS

REGARDING THE PROJECT SO AUTHORITIES CHINESE UNTIL THE STATUS OF THE PROJECT IS MORE CLEARLY ESTABLISHED AND MORE DETAILS ARE AVALIABLE, UNABLE TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THE PROJECT EXAMINE ITS

OF ON THE DEVELOPMENT IMPACT TERRITORIES. AS MEMBERS ARE PROBABLY AWARE, NOW DISCUSSING WITH THE CHINESE SIDE ON THE IMPROVING THE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION REGARDING MAJOR CROSS-BORDER

TO PROJECTS. WE HOPE INFRASTRUCTURAL

ARRIVE AT A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE MECHANISM SOON.

WE ARE

AND

THE

NEW

WE

ARE

MODE OF

NOT POSSIBLE (B) FOR THE REASONS EXPLAINED ABOVE, IT IS

THE DISTRICT FOR US TO INCORPORATE THE PROJECT INTO AND TRANSPORT PLANNING OF THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES. SINCE THE PROJECT WOULD HAVE A MAJOR IMPACT INFRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG,

CONDUCT VIABILITY

COMPREHENSIVE STUDIES

ΤΟ

IF AND WHEN DETAILS OF

THE

ON THE WK WILL EXAMINE ITS

PROJECT

ARE

AVAILABLE.

FOLLOWING

TAX DISPUTES

* * *

WRITTEN

IS A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU WONG-FAT AND A BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE TREASURY, MR DONALD TSANG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}:

REPLY

A

QUESTION AT PRESENT, IF THERE IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN A TAXPAYER AND

GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OVER THE AMOUNT OF TAX TO BE PAID, THE TAXPAYER IS REQUIRED TO PAY THE AMOUNT FIRST, OTHERWISE A SURCHARGE MAY BE IMPOSED FOR LATE PAYMENT. IN VIEW OF THIS, WILL THE GOVERNMENT INFORM THIS COUNCIL OF THE FOLLOWING

(A) IN CASES OF DISPUTE BETWEEN TAXPAYERS AND THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT AND THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT OVER THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID, WHAT IS THE AVERAGE TIME TAKEN FOR THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED ΤΟ DETERMINE THE CORRECT AMOUNT PAYABLE;

DEPARTMENTS

IS THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE CONCERNED TO REFUND THE AMOUNT OVERPAID BY TAXPAYERS;

(B)

WHAT

AND

J

/(C) WHETHER CONSIDERATION