**********************************
The Government proposes to amend the Pilotage (Dues) Order (Cap. 84D) to revise fees charged by pilots for provision of pilotage services. The proposal was gazetted today (May 20).
To ensure safe navigation of visiting ships of 3 000 tonnes or more within Hong Kong waters, pilotage services are mandatory for such ships and provided by licensed pilots in accordance with the Pilotage Ordinance (Cap. 84).
Pilotage dues are charged to shipping liners by licensed pilots for provision of pilotage services and reviewed periodically by the service providers and service users. The current proposal to increase the rates by an average of about 8 per cent has been agreed by both parties.
"The pilotage dues were last revised in 2012. The proposed increase has taken into account a number of factors including inflation in recent years," a spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said.
The Panel on Economic Development of the Legislative Council (LegCo) and the Pilotage Advisory Committee have been consulted and support the proposal.
The Pilotage (Dues) (Amendment) Order 2016 will be tabled at LegCo for negative vetting on May 25 and be effective on July 18.
Ends/Friday, May 20, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:05
NNNN
