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The Government proposes to reduce the passenger embarkation fee in respect of cross-boundary ferry terminals from $15 to $11 per passenger, after a review which reveals that there is room for a 27% reduction in the fee level. It will lead to a reduction of about $48 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. All the cross-boundary ferry operators have also undertaken to reduce their ferry fares to reflect the $4 fee reduction in full," a Government spokesman said today (July 5).
The passenger embarkation fee is prescribed under the Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) Regulations (Cap. 313H) and the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Fees) Regulation (Cap. 548J). Revision of the fee requires legislative amendments.
The Shipping and Port Control (Ferry Terminals) (Amendment: Fee Reduction) Regulation 2007 and Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Fees) (Amendment: Fee Reduction) Regulation 2007 will be published in the Gazette tomorrow (July 6) and tabled at the Legislative Council next Wednesday (July 11). The fee reduction is scheduled for implementation on November 19.
"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/Thursday, July 5, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:36
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