TNAG-1734-FCO40-2447-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 315

HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL-11 May 1988

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STAMP DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY moved the Second Reading: 'A Bill to amend the Stamp Duty Ordinance'.

He said: Sir, I move that the Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 1988 be read a Second time.

The Bill seeks to give legislative effect to the proposals in this year's Budget to introduce with effect from 1 April 1988 a revised scale of stamp duty payable in respect of conveyances on sale. I estimate the cost of implementing these proposals to be around $300 million in the current financial year.

Sir, I move that the debate on this motion be adjourned.

Question on adjournment proposed, put and agreed to.

SOCIETIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY moved the Second Reading of: 'A Bill to amend the Societies Ordinance'.

He said: Sir, I move that the Societies (Amendment) Bill 1988 be read the Second time.

The aim of the Bill is to enable an unnecessary charge to be removed. At present section 9(2) of the Ordinance requires a fee to be charged for inspection of the registers of societies maintained by the Commissioner of Police as Registrar of Societies. This charge was intended to deter casual browsing and was set at a nominal $1. The commissioner has pointed out that many requests to consult the registers come by telephone, making a charge impractical and that, in any case, administrative measures can be taken to deter frivolous access to the registers. Consequently it is proposed to amend section 9(2) to remove the obligation to charge a fee.

It is intended that if this Bill is enacted, the rules made under the Societies Ordinance will be amended to delete the $1 charge and substitute administrative procedures, which will enable the Registrar of Societies to prevent casual reference to the registers, should such measures be necessary.

Opportunity will also be taken to update the Ordinance by substituting the words 'Hong Kong' in place of 'the Colony', wherever this occurs.

Sir, with these remarks, I move that the debate on this motion be adjourned.

Question on adjournment proposed, put and agreed to.

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