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XCR (79)82
Shipping and Port Control (Amendment) Regulations 1979
9
The regulations at Annex C implement the budget proposal to increase the anchorage and buoy dues as described in paragraphs 211-212 of the budget speech.
10
In his budget speech in 1975, the Financial Secretary referred to a suggestion that the yield from the hire of buoys in the harbour might be improved by a 400% increase in the fees. As this was considered too steep an increase to make at one time, the fees were, in that year (1975), increased by 300% to the present level of
$600 a day for an 'A' buoy and $400 a day for a 'B' buoy. Anchorage fees were also increased by the same percentage to the present level of $12 per 100 net registered tons a day inside the harbour limits and $3.20 per 100 net registered tons a day elsewhere in Hong Kong waters.
11
Since 1975, the yield from this source has levelled out. To restore the tax loading of these fees, an increase of about 16% is proposed. The proposed changes are:
(a) to increase the buoy fees from $600 a day to $700
a day for an 'A' buoy, and from $400 to $450 a day for a 'B' buoy;
(b) to increase the anchorage fees from $12 to $14
per 100 net registered tons a day inside the
harbour limits and from $3.20 to $4 per 100 net registered tons a day elsewhere in Hong Kong waters.
The additional revenue is estimated to be about $3 million. It is intended that if the regulations are made, the new rates will take immediate effect.
12
The use of buoys by conventional ships represents a substantial saving over going alongside a pier; the increased rates will still be lower than wharfage fees.
Motor Vehicles (First Registration Tax) (Amendment) Bill 1979
13
This bill (Annex D), already has the force of law by virtue of a Public Revenue Protection Order. It increases the rates of
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