uppleme
N
ing on 22.6.96
Lego Meeting on
2
MR. CHEONG-LEEN : Sir, may I ask what is the approximate
loss of government revenue in terms of dollars and cents?
And referring to the principle enunciated by the Financial
Secretary, may I ask whether genuine transit passengers
staying in Hong Kong
Kong for five or six hours could be
exempted from the tax? This, I presume,
presume, is in accordance
with the principle enunciated by the Financial Secretary.
I
The
FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, as I have already indicated in
my main answer, there are considerable cost implications
in making any change. I think it is worth amplifying what
mean by that. Currently the Airport Departure Fax is
collected by the airlines at the same time when passengers
are completing their check-in procedures.
introduction of an exemption for visitors leaving
leaving on the
same day would involve an examination of evidence
certifying that they had arrived on the same day, and this
would, I believe, be more appropriately done by the
Immigration Department who already have more than enough
work on their plate. It would certainly substantially
increase their workload.
le
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