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The Government today (January 30) gazetted the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment) Regulation 2015 and a notice under the Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) Ordinance to revise certain fees for licences and services managed under the Customs and Excise Department. The fee revisions will be effective on March 27.
The fees to be revised involve:
* licence fees for traders of dutiable commodities;
* charges for various certificates and fees for storage of dutiable commodities;
* bonded warehouse supervision charges; and
* registration fees for motor vehicle importers and/or distributors.
"In line with the 'user-pays' principle, it is the Government's policy that fees charged for public services should in general be set at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of providing the services.
"Costing review at the 2014-15 price levels shows that the cost recovery levels of these items range from 25 per cent to 86 per cent. The extent of fee increases proposed ranges from 10 per cent to 20 per cent, or from $0.30 to $2,200 in dollar terms. Our objective is to achieve full cost recovery gradually.
"Most of these fee items were last revised in 2010. We will continue to enhance efficiency and streamline procedures so as to contain the costs of providing these services," a Government spokesman said.
After the fee revisions, government revenue will increase by $560,000 a year.
Ends/Friday, January 30, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:03
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