Tuesday 2nd March 2010
Dear Reader,
NEW ARTICLE
HK's stamp duty
addiction
We look at the HK Government's opium-like addiction to stamp duty revenues,
which have more than quintupled in 7 years. The budget asks for another fix.
Stamp duty is sand in the wheels of the economy, distorting economic decisions
and reducing economic output. It should be abolished rather than increased
further. Higher stamp duty does not improve property affordability. HK needs a
root-and-branch review of taxation to refocus on fair taxation of GDP rather
than one-off measures and distortive policies.
RECENT ARTICLE
The
fictitious spokesman
We look at the HK Government's media management strategy, involving abuse of
unattributed briefings, and the quotation of imaginary spokespersons, 97.3% of
whom are male. The HK media should put a stop to this practice.
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