XN000022-1996-12-19 — Page 5

4-

Mr Tsang said that Hong Kong would not follow some countries by using highly redistributive fiscal policies involving a steep taxation scale for the higher income groups and a more generous financial assistance at present for the poorer ones.

"Not only would it ruin our tax system by doing away with the low tax rate, it would also tend to weaken the incentive for work and in turn create a heavier social burden for those working. This road to welfarism would surely mess our recipe for economic success in the long run," he added.

End

Information code extended to all branches and departments

The Code on Access to Information will be extended to the remaining nine government agencies next Monday (December 23).

Announcing this today (Thursday), a Government spokesman said this would bring all the 91 branches and departments in the Government under the Code.

The nine agencies are Audit Department, Constitutional Affairs Branch, the General Office of Government House, Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Offices of the Chief Secretary and the Financial Secretary, Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Police Force, Royal Hong Kong Police Force, the Secretariat of the Independent Police Complaints Council, and the Secretariat of the Public Service Commission.

"Under the Code, anyone can seek access to information and records held by government departments. A department must provide access to the requested information unless there are specific grounds for refusal," the spokesman said.

Anyone who thinks that a department has not complied with the Code may ask the department to review its original decision, or complain to the Ombudsman (previously known as COMAC).