NUMBER OF BUSINESS VISITORS SERVED WITH INCOME TAX NOTICES AND NUMBER WHO PAID TAX

Mr John Ede asked the Financial Secretary

(a) how many business visitors staying a maximum of seven days in Singapore were served with income tax assessment notices during the first half of 1957; and

(b) .how many of such persons paid income tax.

Mr T. M. Hart: Sir, separate lists are not kept of assessments raised in respect of business visitors and the information requested by the hon. Member is therefore not available at the present time. In order to obtain it, it will be necessary to examine all the assessments raised during the first half of 1957. This can be done, but it will mean that staff will have to be taken away from the more important task of raising assessments and collecting tax. No doubt the hon. Member will take this fact into account in deciding whether or not to press his request for information.

As regards the second part of the question, having regard to the powers vested in the Comptroller under section 93 of the Ordinance, it is improbable that any of the business visitors to whom the hon. Members refers left the colony without paying tax.