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Hong Kong Retail Management Association From 9 October to 15 October, with the full support of retailers, Association members operating retail outlets invited their customers to participate in a GST Customer Opinion Poll. Customers were asked to fill in a simple form declaring whether they are for or against GST. More than 700,000 customers voted in the 7-day Poll, with results revealing that 92% of them were against GST. Around 97% of the voters were local customers. HKRMA Chairman, Mr. Bankee Kwan Pak-hoo, said that the high response rates to the Poll showed the strong feelings that consumers have towards GST, in addition to also indicating the extent of the opposition to the tax. "We collected more than 700,000 votes, with 92% of these customers being against GST. These customers came from various retail categories, ranging from clothing and food to housing and transportation. This shows the extensiveness of GST on consumption level. In view of the very high percentage of this negative response coming from about one in ten of Hong Kong's population, we hope the Government will take this very "real" public opinion seriously into consideration." Financial Secretary Mr. Henry Tang has stressed the need to widen Hong Kong's narrow tax base. However, Mr. Kwan questioned if GST is the only way available to improve the Government's financial situation. He said, "To broaden the Government's source of income, the Government could take an active role in revitalising the economy to strengthen its recurring income base. It could also take more note of the fact that civil servants' and public sector pay account for 70% of total government recurrent spending. To reduce expenditures, we suggest that the Government manages its public finances cautiously and continues to improve efficiency in accordance with the Basic Law. The Government should not threaten to squeeze expenditure on essential services, such as education, if GST does not go ahead. Nor should the Government seek to shift responsibility for public sector requirements, such as education and social welfare, on to its citizens." Mr. Tang has also outlined a package of tax exemption proposals, which could be adopted with the introduction of GST. However, Mr. Kwan pointed out that this seems to be an inducement for introducing GST. "We expect the Government to introduce sweeteners to make GST palatable. Consumers may think that the Government is making concessions, having taken public opinion into consideration. However, the Government's ultimate intention is to implement GST." Mr. Kwan reaffirmed the Association's opposition to the implementation of GST, which could exert an immediate negative impact on Hong Kong's economy. These could, for example, include dampening consumer spending, worsening inflationary pressures, complicating the simple tax system and reducing foreign initiatives to invest in Hong Kong. About HKRMA The Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA) is the major association representing Hong Kong's retail industry. The Association's current membership represents over 500 major retail chains covering more than 5,000 retail outlets and employing two-thirds of the total retail workforce in Hong Kong. Member organizations are engaged in various types of retail businesses ranging from department stores to supermarkets, convenience stores, drug stores, food, fashion and accessories, specialty stores and industry related service organizations. Issued by Hong Kong Retail Management Association on  25/10/2006 | |||
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