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The Government today (May 2) announced in the Gazette the proposal to revise existing fees and charges under the Noise Control Ordinance and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Charges for Discharge of Polluting Waste) Regulation.
A government spokesman said the revisions were aimed at achieving full-cost recovery for services provided in accordance with the "user pays" principle.
After gazettal today, the Amendment Regulations for implementing the fee and charge revisions will be tabled in the Legislative Council next Wednesday (May 7). The proposed new rates are scheduled to take effect on July 1.
The fees under the Noise Control Ordinance are for processing the application for Construction Noise Permits and Noise Emission Labels for controlling noise from construction activities and from the use of noisy construction equipment.
These fees are set out under Noise Control (General) Regulations, Noise Control (Air Compressors) Regulations and Noise Control (Hand Held Percussive Breakers) Regulations.
Charges under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Charges for Discharge of Polluting Waste) Regulation are for the use of reception facilities provided by the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre to treat polluting waste, such as liquid oil waste and sludge, from sea-going ships.
"The charges under the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) (Charges for Discharge of Polluting Waste) Regulation only cover part of the variable operating cost paid to the contractor of the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre. For this, the Government would still have to bear the full fixed operating cost and the capital cost in providing this service," the spokesman said.
The fees and charges under the relevant Regulations of the Noise Control Ordinance and the Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution)(Charges for Discharge of Polluting Waste) Regulation were last revised in January 2006 and March 2006 respectively.
"They would be adjusted in phases over the next few years in order to achieve full-cost recovery while avoiding steep one-off increases," he said.
"The revisions in fees and charges have also taken into account efficiency savings and productivity enhancement undertaken by the Environmental Protection Department. The department will continue to take necessary measures to contain costs," he said.
Ends/Friday, May 2, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:06
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