TIEN SHOULD RECONSIDER HIS POSITION

I am disgusted by the attitude of Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun towards the Filipino workers in this community.

I have no doubt that by enabling many highly qualified persons to go to work in the sure knowledge that their children are in safe hands, Filipino domestic helpers contribute more to our society than does Mr Tien.

By suggesting that Filipino workers should be taxed $500 per month, Mr Tien is seeking to have our government take 14 per cent of the salary from some of the lowest paid workers in Hong Kong. He may not have read the rallying call of the British politician Lord Camden who told the House of Lords in 1766: 'Taxation and representation are inseparable.'

The Filipinos in our community are not represented. Perhaps that is why Mr Tien picked on them.

He was elected to the Legislative Council by the Commercial (First) functional constituency.

If he is to demand that any specific sector of our community should be selected to pay tax, it is logical that his victims should be from his constituency, the group he purports to represent.

I call upon Mr Tien to reconsider his position. If he still feels that the Filipinos in our community should be selected to contribute $500 per month from their salaries, I call upon him to resign, and I would anticipate that many of his right-minded constituents will make the same call.

If he does not resign, it is to be hoped that he will be defeated when he seeks reselection in September 2004.

BRIAN APTHORP, Shouson Hill