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Five regulations, namely the Public Health and Municipal Services (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2013, Food Business (Amendment) Regulation 2013, Frozen Confections (Amendment) Regulation 2013, Milk (Amendment) Regulation 2013 and the Dutiable Commodities (Liquor Licences) (Fees) Regulation, which seek to align the different levels of fees and charges for similar municipal services in urban areas and the New Territories, will be gazetted this Friday (May 24).
A Government spokesman said today (May 22), "The proposed legislative amendments are to take forward the initiative announced by the Chief Executive in his 2013 Policy Address to align the different levels of fees and charges for similar municipal services in the urban areas and the New Territories. It is stated that where the fee or charge for a service or facility differs between the urban areas and the New Territories, the lower rate will prevail."
The five Regulations to be gazetted cover 93 fee items which require alignment. They include certain fees for hawker licences, allocation and use of hawker pitches or stalls, liquor licences, food and trade licences, cemeteries and crematoria services, slaughterhouse licences and inspection services. Information on the fees and charges to be aligned is available on the webpage of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/events/fees_align/index.html).
Subject to vetting by the Legislative Council, the aligned fees will take effect from July 19, 2013. "If a person chooses to pay before July 19, 2013 for a service which is rendered on or after July 19, 2013, or for a licence/permit which becomes valid on or after July 19, 2013, he will still need to pay the old fee. The extra amount paid will be refunded as soon as possible after the new fees have taken effect," the spokesman said.
As a result of the alignment of these fees, there will be a reduction of Government revenue of about $54 million annually, he added.
Ends/Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 15:46
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