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SCMP Reporter

Antony Leung would have paid about $190,000 more in tax had he bought his new limousine after his announcement to increase the first vehicle registration tax, car dealers said yesterday.

An outspoken agent called the radio phone-in programme Teacup in a Storm  to report that Mr Leung had not just saved $50,000 on tax.

Some dealers contacted by the South China Morning Post,  who declined to be named, believed the financial secretary had also misquoted the price of his car.

On Sunday, Mr Leung said his Lexus 430 was worth $790,000, adding that it would cost about $840,000 after the tax increase.

But the dealers said the price Mr Leung quoted was for a new model introduced to Hong Kong last month. The older model he bought was priced at about $730,000.

Crown Motors, which sold the Lexus to Mr Leung, refused to disclose more details of the transaction.

But it stressed that the company pricing strategy was not just based on tax rates but also influenced by the imported price and changing market conditions.

'As we do not sell the old model any more, there is no way we could compare the price difference of the model before and after tax,' said a company salesman.

Johnson Li, vice-chairman of the Motor Traders Association, also said that it was not fair to suggest the price difference was simply based on tax rate changes. He also denied the car industry had deliberately exposed Mr Leung's purchase in protest at the tax rise.

'We don't know who exposed the news or who spoke on the radio as well. This guy definitely is not a member and does not represent the views of our association,' he said.

Another car dealer said: 'The story about Mr Leung buying a Lexus had been circulating . . . before the Budget. Perhaps, someone who did not like the tax rise deliberately exposed the news to the media,' he said.

It has been estimated that the stiffer progressive vehicle tax band will bring the government an extra $700 million a year in revenue.



Antony Leung's tax claims on new vehicle disputed by angry dealers