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Press Release
: News Archives
LegCo to debate Motion on Inland Revenue Ordinance
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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative
Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council will hold a meeting this Wednesday (May
11) at 11 am in the Chamber of the Legislative Council Building.
During the meeting, Members will debate a motion on comprehensive
review of the Inland Revenue Ordinance.
The motion, to be moved by Hon TAM Heung-man, says: "That,
as it has been nearly 30 years since the Government conducted a
comprehensive review of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (¡§ IRO¡¨ ) in
1976, in order to further strengthen and expand Hong Kong's edge
as an ideal place for investment in the international arena, this
Council urges the Government to, under the principle of maintaining
a simple tax regime with low tax rates:
(a) expeditiously conduct a comprehensive review of the IRO, so
as to ensure that it meets the needs of the current economic environment
and mode of business;
(b) make the provisions of the IRO more simple and certain, and
enhance consistency in its implementation; and
(c) establish a statutory advisory body on taxation for conducting
a policy study on the IRO, and ensure that members of the advisory
body come from different sectors,with a view to enhancing Hong Kong's
competitiveness and its attractiveness to international investors."
Hon Patrick LAU Sau-shing and Hon LEE Cheuk-yan will separately
move amendments to Hon TAM Heung-man's motion.
Members will also debate a motion on regretting interpretation of
the Basic Law by the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress. The motion, to be proposed by Hon LEUNG Kwok-hung, states:
"That this Council regrets that the HKSAR Government has twice
requested the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
("NPCSC") to interpret the provisions of the Basic Law
in 1999 and 2005 respectively and requests the NPCSC to withdraw
its decisions in the last two interpretation exercises, and demands
the SAR Government to apologize to the people of Hong Kong for having
done so and undertake not to further request the NPCSC to interpret
the Basic Law; furthermore, this Council also urges the NPCSC to
rescind its decision made on 26 April 2004 to rule out the election
of the Chief Executive and all Members of the Legislative Council
by universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008 respectively in Hong Kong
which throttles the rights of the people of Hong Kong to the full
implementation of election by universal suffrage in 2007 and 2008,
as well as demands the Chief Secretary for Administration, Hon Donald
TSANG Yam-kuen, to rescind the four constitutional development reports,
so as to give a true account of the facts."
On bills, the Revenue (Abolition of Estate Duty) Bill 2005; and
the Smoking (Public Health) (Amendment) Bill 2005 will be introduced
into the Council for First and Second Readings. Second Reading debates
on these two bills will be adjourned.
During the meeting, Members will ask the Government 19 questions
on various policy areas, five of which require oral replies.
The agenda of the above meeting can be obtained via the Legislative
Council InfoFax Service (Tel: 2869 9568) or the Legislative Council
website (http://www.legco.gov.hk).
Members of the public are welcome to observe the proceedings of
the meeting from the public galleries of the Legislative Council
Chamber. They may reserve seats by calling 2869 9399 during office
hours. Seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ends/Monday, May 9, 2005
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