In Brief

Tax-reform consultation ends with 2,400 submissions collected

About 2,400 submissions from organisations and individuals had been received by the close of the nine-month public consultation on tax reform on Saturday. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau is analysing the data and will prepare a final report, which is expected to be completed by the end of June, to the next government for consideration. The government met strong opposition when it suggested introducing a sales tax as a way to broaden the tax base, and suspended consultation on it.

Taxpayers reminded to use telefiling, updated online system

Tax time has come around again. The government is about to begin issuing 150,000 profits tax returns, 100,000 property tax returns and 300,000 employer's returns for the last financial year. People are reminded they can make use of the department's telefiling and internet filing, or the postal system. The online system has been updated to take into account tax relief measures proposed in the 2007-08 budget and taxpayers can find out instantaneously the amount of tax due. Taxpayers who opt for phone or internet filing will get an automatic extension for two weeks to file their returns, the government said.

Sales figures beat forecast

Retail sales in February soared 28.4 per cent to HK$20.8 billion compared to a year ago, the Census and Statistics Department said. The result beat the consensus estimate of 17 per cent by a wide margin and reversed January's 1.5 per cent decline. The government said the data was distorted by the Lunar New Year, which fell in February this year but in January last year.

New judge appointed

Barrister Leung Chun-man has been appointed a district judge from April 16. Born in Hong Kong in 1965, Mr Leung received his legal education at the University of Hong Kong. He was called to the Bar in Hong Kong in 1991 and has been in private practice since 1992.