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Oliver Kwan

Pulcheria Chung

Pulcheria Chung, 18 St Mary's Canossian College

A sales tax would do more harm than good to Hong Kong.

Our economy  has just begun to pick up. Both businesses and consumers would suffer if a sales tax was introduced.

We should bear in mind what makes  the city an attractive location for investment:  the simplicity of our taxation system.

It would be a bad idea to complicate things.

Also,  our economy depends heavily on tourism.

One of our main selling points is  that we have no sales tax,  which makes us a shopping paradise.

Why would  we want to ruin the advantage and drive tourists away?

I am aware of the city's declining revenues and  increased spending, but   our economy is simply not strong enough  to support a sales tax.

What the government should do  is  start a consultation to discuss the issue with the different  sectors.

It should also  educate the public on the details of the proposed sales tax.

Oliver Kwan, 17 Delia School of Canada

I come from a country where people are against taxes.

But I have to say that a sales tax will be a good thing, although there will be difficulties.

We live in a community which feeds on money.

Schooling, social welfare, policing and city maintenance are only some  items from a long list of the city's expenditures.

Students pay for textbooks  in Hong Kong - something unheard of in many countries.

Things could improve with more government funding. Costs can be shared by everyone.

I doubt that the tourism industry would suffer. Being a tax-free zone is a great draw, but Hong Kong is seen as a gateway to Asia.

England, Canada, America and many parts of Europe have sales taxes, but they still attract a lot of tourists.

I'm a socialist. I think community needs are more important than personal ones. Society's needs should be our top priority.



Should a sales tax be introduced in Hong Kong?