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Fees for a number of licences and permits will be waived for one year from July 1.
The Financial Secretary announced on May 26 a package of relief measures, including the waiving of licensing fees for one year, to alleviate the burden of the people of Hong Kong and certain sectors that are most seriously affected by the economic downturn and human swine flu.
"The total cost of the waiver of the licensing fees to the Government is $670 million," a Government spokesman said.
Licensing fees for the following licences and permits will be waived for one year from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010:-
(a) Cinema licences - regulation is made under the Places of Public Entertainment Ordinance (Cap. 172) to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of licences and provisional licences for cinemas.
(b) Liquor licences - regulation is made under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109) to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of liquor licences, but excluding the fees payable for temporary licences issued for an individual event.
(c) Karaoke establishment licences and permits - regulation is made under the Karaoke Establishments Ordinance (Cap. 573) to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of permits, provisional permits, licences and provisional licences for operating karaoke establishments.
(d) Travel agent licences - regulation is made under the Travel Agents Ordinance (Cap. 218) to waive the fees payable for application for licences, new issue or renewal of licences as travel agents and issue of duplicate of licences.
(e) Vehicle licences - regulation is made under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of vehicle licences for goods vehicles, trailers, taxis, non-franchised public buses, public light buses and student service vehicles (including school private light buses and private buses for student service). The levies payable under the Traffic Accident Victims (Assistance Fund) Ordinance (Cap.229), which form part of the licence fees for vehicles, will not however be waived as these are collected as a contribution towards the fund for assisting traffic accident victims and their dependants.
(f) Passenger service licences and passenger service licence certificates - regulation is made under the Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap. 374) to waive the fees payable for the issue of passenger service licences and passenger service licence certificates (excluding private buses not for student service).
(g) Vessel licences - regulation is made under the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548) to waive the fees payable for the issue or renewal of full licences, or temporary licences, or for the grant of permissions for laid-up vessels, in respect of local vessels that are Class I, II or III vessels or are Class IV vessels that are let for hire or reward and with certificates of inspection or certificates of survey.
The regulations will be published in the gazette on June 26 and be tabled at the Legislative Council on July 8 for negative vetting.
No subsidiary legislation is required to give effect to the waiver of the following licensing fees.
(h) Restaurant licences - to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of licences or provisional licences for general and marine restaurants and light refreshments restaurants.
(i) Restricted food permits - to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of restricted food permits.
(j) Hawker licences - to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of licences for fixed pitch hawkers and itinerant hawkers, and fees for the allocation and use of fixed pitches, but excluding the fees payable for those temporary licences issued for individual events.
(k) Hotel and guesthouse licences - to waive the fees payable for the new issue or renewal of licences for operating hotels and guesthouses.
Enquiries on details of the above measures should be directed to the relevant departments :-
(a) Cinema licences, liquor licences, restaurant licences and restricted food permits - Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 2867 5074;
(b) Karaoke licences and permits - Home Affairs Department at 2881 7018 or Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 2867 5074;
(c) Travel agents licences - Travel Agents Registry at 3151 7942;
(d) Vehicle licences - Transport Department at 2804 2590;
(e) Passenger service licences and passenger service licence certificates - Transport Department at 2865 0836;
(f) Vessel licences - Marine Department at 2852 3080;
(g) Hawker licences - Food and Environmental Hygiene Department at 2867 5935; and
(h) Hotel and guesthouse licences - Home Affairs Department at 2881 7018.
Ends/Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 17:55
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