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The Government plans to introduce the Import and Export (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 2008 to exempt all import/export declaration charges in respect of aircraft parts and accessories used in the repair or maintenance of aircraft owned or chartered by local-based airlines.
A spokesman for the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (January 23) the scope of exemption under the proposal also covered the import declaration charges on articles used in the repair and maintenance of freight containers operated by local-based sea or air freight transport companies.
"This is a technical amendment to regulation 8 of the Import and Export (Registration) Regulations to better reflect our policy concerning the exemptions. Nevertheless, while the proposal seeks to exempt the declaration charges, traders will continue to be required to lodge relevant trade declarations," the spokesman said.
The Amendment Regulation will be introduced into the Legislative Council on February 20. Subject to Legco approval, the Amendment Regulation will be gazetted on February 22 and commence operation on the same date.
At present, anyone who lodges an import/export declaration in respect of an article not exempted from declaration charge is required to pay a declaration charge. Currently, for non-food items, the declaration charge for the imports and exports is 50 cents for the first $46,000 of the value of goods declared and 25 cents for each additional $1,000 or part thereof and rounded up to the nearest 10 cents.
The Administration has briefed the affected companies on the proposal. On the enactment of the Amendment Regulation, the Customs and Excise Department and the Census and Statistics Department will also provide information about the exemption through their departmental websites and relevant enquiry hotlines and newsletters.
Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:01
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