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Transit passengers who arrive at Hong Kong International Airport via a new cross-boundary ferry service for direct onward travel by air will be exempted from the Air Passenger Departure Tax (APDT) under the APDT Ordinance (Amendment of Second Schedule) Order 2003.

The order was published in the Gazette today (September 27) and takes immediate effect.

The exemption is connected to the opening of the new airport cross-boundary ferry terminal on Monday (September 29). The terminal will enable passengers from Macau and certain Mainland ports to reach the airport directly by ferry for onward travel by air.

"Under the existing ADPT Ordinance, direct transit and connecting airside transit passengers are exempt from the Air Passenger Departure Tax," a Government spokesman said. "Therefore, it is consistent with Government policy to exempt from the tax all transit passengers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport by cross-boundary ferry."

"The arrangement will assist and encourage passengers from the Mainland and Macau to make use of the airport and further Hong Kong's development as a regional and international aviation hub," the spokesman said.

End/Saturday, September 27, 2003

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