TNAG-1727-FCO40-2440-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 117

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like to call upon the Government again to introduce separate taxation for

next year. married couples. This long standing pro-

Yet X

blem has not been resolved.

It makes me

feet puzzled that in his Budget speech, the Financial Secretary said that this is a complex subject with many options to be considered if we are to ensure

broadly equitable treatment. It would therefore, not be feasible to introduce separate taxation overnight.

In fact, has been

I remember that this proposal was put

forward many years ago. It takes too long for the Government to study the

feasibility of this proposal. Some- body said that the separate taxation system is too complicated, therefore the Government has no intention of

to implementing it. I disagree with this. I sincerely hope that the Gov-

ernment will make no other excuses

to delay the implementation of separ-

ate taxation for married couples because this proposal has received the support of most of our honourable colleagues, and this proposal was also supported by most members of the

=

is

public, in order to reduce the tax-

ation burden on the middle-income

group.

Finally, the Financial Secretary has

the proposed the consideration of levying—

Ja sales tax. I strongly object to

this proposal. Yesterday, and also

hon.

teday, many of my honourable colleagues cap

have spoken against the proposal.