education facilities and indeed all other facilities in new towns; Shatin and Tuen Mun are facing an acute shortage of education facilities; Housing Authority should give as much notice as possible when allocating public housing so that parents can have enough time to arrange the schooling of their children; guidelines and programmes to further strengthen civic education should be compiled and implemented without delay; students should continue to have a choice of receiving education in a school from either the Chinese or English stream; during summer vacation, teachers should be more involved in remedial teaching and other educational activities; in addition to the promotion of civic education, consider instilling in the local population, particularly the younger generation, a greater degree of civic responsibility and a better understanding of the Government and the democratic process; consider as a matter of urgency, the promotion of civic education in schools as well as for every individual, to prepare them for the impending political changes; Hong Kong should have its own institute for the validation of degree courses; a "Civic Education Advisory Committee" should be established to formulate policy and coordinate implementation of providing civic education to students and the public at large; existing nine years full time education should be extended to Form V; after Form III, students should be given the choice of a grammar school education, as distinct from vocational training; Government should provide evening courses to cater for the needs of those who are eager to learn, but for financial reasons must work during day time; Putonghua should be introduced as a medium of instruction.
Housing
Government should review its housing policy to see whether investment in this sector could be taken up by private enterprise; if the Private Sector Participation Scheme was expanded, Government could direct some of its investment in housing to other capital works; while the provision of public housing must be stepped up, squatter area improvement programmes such as fire prevention, water supply and sanitation must continue.
Miscellaneous
Block vote of funds for Council for the Performing Arts welcomed;
Government should satisfy itself beyond reasonable doubt that the Tuen Mun Light Rail System is financially viable before any irrevocable commitment is made; pending permanent arrangements to supply mains water to Ma Wan, some interim arrangements should be made to relieve the plight of the residents; the proposals for establishing "villages centres" and a "Residential Upgrading Pilot Scheme" to improve the living environment of NT villagers supported; vital that Hong Kong continues to use both Chinese and English as official languages; about time that legislation to prevent sex and racial discrimination was introduced; the Consumer Council should be conferred with powers of enforcement; " Consumer Council Labels" should be considered for products tested and found to be up to standard; urban renewal supported; company registration and property listing should be computerised; establishment of "Objectionable Publications Tribunal" welcomed, in view of the proliferation of publications and video-tapes that are full of violence and vice.
Annual Budget Debate The Financial Secretary introduced the Appropriation Bill 1985 into LegCo on 27.2.85. Twenty-seven Members spoke on 27.3.85 and 28.3.85 on the Government's fiscal policies and Budget proposals. The Officials replied on 17.4.85 and 18.4.85. The main subjects covered by the Unofficial Members included:
Taxation
Health drinks, particularly Soya Bean Milk, should be exempted from tax; regrettable that a duty which hits young people the hardest had to be introduced in the International Youth Year; cosmetics which are for hygiene and therapeutic purposes should be exempted from tax; non-alcoholic drinks not the best targets for raising revenue; merchandise and non- essentials for higher income groups are better revenue targets; tax increases with a higher contribution from indirect taxation welcomed; the well-off should be asked to contribute more to the public coffers; Government should levy heavier taxes on commodities which only the well-off could normally afford; a tax on advertisements and for the use of air space over roads for advertisements
proposed; there should be a more effective system of taxing self- employed professionals; maintenance of a low tax environment for Hong Kong is of the utmost importance; introduction of anti-avoidance measures welcomed; opposition to anti-avoidance measures was bound to arise, but Government must listen to constructive criticism; the introduction of anti-avoidance measures would be supported, if their introduction does not affect the simplicity of the overall tax structure; anti-avoidance provisions in section 61 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance are grossly inadequate and should be amended without delay; anti- avoidance legislation must avoid catching the innocent and guilty alike; proposed increase in annual car licence fees and driving licence fees deplored; road usage by motor vehicles need to be controlled, not vehicle ownership itself; ad valorem taxation of cosmetics may adversely affect the re-export trade of cosmetics; FOB value as against CIF prices of imported cosmetics should be used as basis for taxation; Government should review free quota of perfume and cosmetics for entry into Hong Kong; the definition of cosmetics should be clarified; only profits generated within Hong Kong should be taxed; a tax of 0.5 per cent on all imports including foodstuffs or a one per cent tax on sales at wholesale level could help balance the budget; indirect taxation on non-essentials better than direct taxation; fringe benefits for employees should be taxable; Government should as a start consider the taxation of education allowances, leave and passage allowances and free housing accommodation for its employees; if more revenue sources are to be considered, priority should be given to the real luxuries; fees should be charged at immigration control points at Hung Hom, Lo Wu and Man Kam To; taxation of off-shore interest could be perceived as a departure from the territorial source taxation principle; Hong Kong must have a simple taxation system in order to prosper as a financial centre; additional personal allowances for salaries tax welcomed; no increase in allowance for single persons regretted; proposals to limit duty free concessions unfair to local residents; a minimum period of absence of 72 hours proposed, before the concession rules apply; there
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