embarkation fee
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The Government proposes to reduce the passenger embarkation fee in respect of cross-boundary ferry terminals from $18 to $15 per passenger, after a review that reveals there is room for a 17% reduction in the fee level. It will lead to a reduction of $29.8 million in Government revenue per annum.
"The proposed reduction of the passenger embarkation fee, which is imposed on cross-boundary ferry owners in respect of each passenger embarking on the ferry vessel at a cross-boundary ferry terminal, will reduce the operating costs of ferry operators and provide room for them to reduce the ferry fares," a Government spokesman said today (October 5).
"Most of the cross-boundary ferry operators have already indicated that they would reduce their ferry fares accordingly by $3," the spokesman added.
The passenger embarkation fee is prescribed under the Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) Regulations (Cap. 313H). Revision of the fee requires a legislative amendment.
The Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) (Amendment) Regulation 2005 will be gazetted this Friday (October 7) and tabled at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (October 12). The fee reduction is scheduled for implementation in December.
The two cross-boundary ferry terminals in Hong Kong -- the Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan and the China Ferry Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui -- are Government-owned and operated public utilities. The Government's policy is that charges of such Government utilities should in general be set at a level sufficient to recover the full cost for the provision of services.
"We regularly review the level of the passenger embarkation fee, having regard to the cost-recovery principle and other relevant factors such as the likely impact on inflation, public acceptance and affordability," the spokesman said.
Ends/Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Issued at HKT 12:05
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