FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1977
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N.T. SLAUGHTER-HOUSE FEES REVISED
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FEES FOR THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT'S MEAT INSPECTION SERVICE AT PRIVATE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE TO BE INCREASED FROM TODAY TO REDUCE THE BURDEN OF OPERATING COSTS WHICH FALL ON THE PUBLIC.
ACCORDING TO THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES (NEW TERRITORIES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1977 PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE THE INSPECTION FEES WILL BE RAISED FROM $1.20 TO $2.80 FOR ANY BOVINE ANIMAL AND FROM $0.60 TO $1.80 FOR ANY OTHER ANIMAL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT THAT THE FEES HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE NOVEMBER 1971, AND
SAID TODAY THE REVISION WOULD AFFECT ONLY TWO PRIVATE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+ THE PURPOSE OF THE INCREASE IS TO BRING FEES INTO LINE WITH RISING OPERATING COSTS INCURRED BY THE USD, SO THAT THE MEAT INSPECTION SERVICE PROVIDED AT THE SLAUGHTER-HOUSES IN TAI PO AND YUEN LONG WILL NO LONGER BE SUBSIDISED FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, HE ADDED.
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THE SERVICE WAS OPERATED AT A DEFICIT OF $440,000 IN 1976/77, AND ONLY A NEAR BREAK-EVEN+ POINT WOULD HAVE BEEN REACHED IF THE FEES HAD BEEN AT THE NEW LEVELS.
A DECISION ON THE NEW SCALE OF FEES WAS REACHED AFTER CONSULTATIONS WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK, THE VARIOUS MEAT-MERCHANT ASSOCIATIONS INVOLVED AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THE TWO SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE CHANGE WAS EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON RETAIL PRICES, SINCE THE ADDITIONAL COST WAS MINIMAL IN RELATION TO THE OVERALL VALUE OF EACH ANIMAL.
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