The Facts
- PricewaterhouseCoopers' opinions on GST in Hong Kong.
- An article by Stephen Ching, published in The Hong Kong Centre for Economic Research, The University of Hong Kong.
- An article published by Asian Development Bank.
- An article published in The Standard, a local Hong Kong newspaper.
- An article published in the Taipei Times.
- HK Financial Secretary'2006-07 budget speech
- The Hong Kong Tax Reform web site.
- An article, "Second Take - Financial Times" from Business Daily.
- Press release from the Federation of Hong Kong Industries
The Petition Against GST in Hong Kong
The following is the petition I have created to be sent to the HKSAR (Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region) government when they begin to accept comments on their proposal to adopt GST for the territory.
Hong Kong being a world renowned shopping haven should not adopt any form of GST (Goods and Services Tax). Doing so will destroy this status within the [Asia] region and around the world.
The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) government is planning to implement a form of GST, and along with this proposal also various tax rebates; including land tax and utility rebates, in an attempt to ease the burden of the HKSAR residences (tax payers).
The government also propose to charge GST on any purchases that HKSAR residence made outside the territory in all amounts over HKD3000.00.
The government's attempts to lighten the affect on tourist by proposing a tax refund for tourists making purchases over HKD1500.00 on a single receipt at any merchant.
These rebates, whether they are for HKSAR tax payers or tourist are not enough, and as usual, only benefit those who can afford to pay GST in the first place.
In actual fact, the implementation of any sort of GST will only increase the the number of residences in Hong Kong that will have to bare the additional burden of paying tax, when they never can afford to or have to previously.
Whether we are residence of Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) or not, we are all consumers and potential consumers in Hong Kong. Therefore, we are signing this petition to let the Hong Kong SAR government know that we, the consumers, are strongly against the adoption of any form of GST in Hong Kong now or any time in the future.
