Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025 to be gazetted
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Under the Air Passenger Departure Tax Ordinance (Cap. 140) (APDT Ordinance), certain classes of people are exempted from payment of the APDT, including passengers under 12 years of age, direct transit passengers, connecting flight passengers, passengers who arrive at and depart from Hong Kong by aircraft on the same day, and passengers who arrive at Hong Kong International Airport by vehicle via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge or by ship and subsequently depart from Hong Kong by aircraft while remaining within the restricted area at all times before departure.
A Government spokesman said, "The APDT was last increased more than 20 years ago in 2003-04. The proposed increase constitutes only a very small portion of the overall travelling cost for the general public and travellers to Hong Kong. The impact on air passengers is expected to be minimal."
Meanwhile, under the APDT Ordinance, airlines and helicopter company collect the APDT from air passengers on behalf of the Government, and process applications for exemptions and refunds. The Government pays an administration fee to them in return. The Bill also proposes amending the APDT Ordinance to streamline the financial arrangement of the Government for handling the administration fee.
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council for first reading and the commencement of the second reading debate on March 19.
Ends/Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:15
Issued at HKT 17:15
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