Travel Agents (Fee Concessions) Regulation 2017 gazetted

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     The Travel Agents (Fee Concessions) Regulation 2017 was gazetted today (June 2). The Regulation seeks to give effect to the waivers of certain licence fees for 12 months payable by a travel agent. This is for the implementation of part of the short-term relief measures announced by the Financial Secretary in his 2017-18 Budget in view of the challenging outlook for the tourism industry and the hardship it is currently facing.

     Under the Regulation, the following fees under Schedule 1 to the Travel Agents Regulations (Cap. 218A) payable during the 12-month concession period from November 20, 2017, to November 19, 2018, will be waived in the following manner:

(a) the fee for a licence or renewal of a licence (i.e. $485 per month) will be waived if its validity period begins within the concession period, subject to a maximum amount of $5,820 for 12 months in aggregate;

(b) the fee of $925 will be fully waived for a duplicate licence for display at every branch either upon its opening or when the licence fee for renewal by agents with branches is waived under paragraph (a) above;

(c) the fee of $665 will be fully waived for amending a licence to add an additional address for opening a new branch; and

(d) the fee of $630 for applying for a new licence will be fully waived.

     "Travel agents do not need to apply for the above waivers separately because the fees concerned will be automatically waived if the conditions are met," a Government spokesman said.

     The Regulation will be tabled at the Legislative Council for negative vetting on June 7, 2017. Subject to its passage, the Regulation will take effect for one year from November 20, 2017, dovetailing with the existing concession period from November 20, 2016, to November 19, 2017, under the Travel Agents (Fee Concessions) Regulation 2016.

     Travel agents will be notified of details of these waivers separately.

Ends/Friday, June 2, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:30

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