Date:
25.11.86
Time:
2.15 to 5.00
Reporter:
JPM
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particular instance
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jrbar
we are talking obviously of Urban and Regional Council markets. The view and obviously my opinion is asked as to
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the effect, the additional costs and so on and so forth, so this is
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all part of looking at policy as to whether from a policy point of 5 view the law should be changed to possibly and I think the DFS
will answer later on this question, whether in fact perhaps as
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these markets in effect have been public markets and provide a public 8 purpose for the public at large, whether they in fact eventually
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should be exempt as an ultimate solution, for instance rather than deferred until, for policy reasons at this present time.
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CHAIRMAN:
But is your view Mr Commissioner, that
these market stalls ought to be assessed?
CRV:
MR CHEONG:
Legally according to the Ordinance, yes.
Mr Commissioner, in the light of November
1985 letter from the Secretary of the Public Accounts Committee when considering the Director of Audit's Report, we already noticed that no rates were being assessed, the views of the Public Accounts Committee were expressed to you in that particular letter, did you raise this in June 1986 with the relevant policy Secretaries, when they decided not to recommend issuing rate demand notes?
CRV:
Very simply what happened was following on the
appearance as you say, in the last Audit Report or even prior to that of course, discussions were already taking place between myself, the Urban Council, the Regional Council and the Policy Branch as to what should be done and as a result of a series of meetings and so on and so forth, we decided if you like that rather than the narrow view
should be taken, the policy was decided that the overall picture as to
whether in fact it would be economical for instance, to rate and/or of course the political situation in view of the known commitment by 34 the Urban Council to review its policy on market stalls and hawkers.
In other words, it was considered that it could well have a detri-
mental effect both economically and politically, if they were assessed.
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No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.