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New Zealand set to apologise for taxing Chinese

New Zealand's government is set to mark the lunar new year by apologising to the nation's Chinese people for forcing them to pay a poll tax from 1881 until 1944.

But an opposition member of parliament, ethnic Chinese Pansy Wong is not happy at the way the deal is being done.

Wellington's Dominion newspaper quotes her as saying the government was aware of the poll tax issue but was ignorant of the depth of feelings and divided opinions.

She said the issue demanded wider consultation if there was to be genuine reconciliation.

Under the Chinese Immigration Act each Chinese immigrant had to pay a 10 pounds entry tax. Other taxes were imposed on Chinese shipping and cargo tonnages.

11/02/2002 22:05:48 | ABC Radio Australia News

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