TNAG-1727-FCO40-2440-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 124

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

(as)

1

review the outdated scale of income tax, which should

2 be adjusted according to inflationary trends in order

to palliate the hardships of low income taxpayers.<

4

295

6

7

8

9

серо

11

12

13

14

Taking the grassroots population's interests into consideration, I would propose. the introduction of tax exemptions for employers to adapt the machinery to meet the needs of disabled workers, a tax concession for factory owners who operate day creches for working mothers

their on the payroll, child allowances for working housewives and attendance allowance for families with elderly and

infirm members.

77 15

?

сар

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

27

9

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

The Financial Secretary's forecast of the slow economic

growth in the foreseeable future casts light on his cautious Budget provisions. In anticipation of a less buoyant economy resulting in likely expenditure cut-backs in 1989-1990, it seems timely now to expand and improve-en

our social welfare services and to make hay while the sun shines. To cope with rising public expectations, the

unmet Government not only has to attend to inaudible) social

needs using this year's additional manpower resources of

some 437 social workers, but also has to uproot inadequacies and inequities affecting the quality of services. Sir, therefore I hereby propose; firstly, the training of

26 social workers, which so far receives less attention than a

crisis solution, ought to be strengthened, giving emphasis to specialised in-service training. The Government's financial commitment towards maximising available social worl manpower resources is the key to uplifting the quality of

our social welfare services. This is also an effective and

concrete measure in counter-balancing the grave brain drain problem we are facing. Secondly, the gap existing between 、

K

the salaries and fringe benefits of civil servants and sub- vented organisations employees should be narrowed, putting both groups of workers on an equal footing. I would urge

36

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.