FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1983
8
NT LICENCE AND PERMIT FEES REVISED
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THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE OF FEES FOR A NUMBER OF LICENCES AND PERMITS ISSUED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE, WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE REVISED LICENCE FEES APPLY TO GENERAL AND MARINE RESTAURANTS, LIGHT REFRESHMENT RESTAURANTS, FOOD FACTORIES AND OTHER FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, FACTORY CANTEENS, FRESH PROVISION SHOPS, AND SIU ME AND LO MEI SHOPS.
THEY ALSO APPLY TO OFFENSIVE TRADES, UNDERTAKERS OF BURIALS, CINEMAS OR THEATRES, PRIVATE SWIMMING POOLS, PUBLIC TABLE TENNIS OR BILLIARD SALOONS, PUBLIC BOWLING-ALLEYS, PUBLIC SKATING RINKS, AND OTHER PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT AS WELL AS RESTRICTED FOOD PERMITS,
THE INCREASES ARE PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THEY WOULD BRING FEES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES INTO LINE WITH THE FEES ALREADY IN FORCE IN THE URBAN AREA SINCE APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, AS THE SAME STANDARDS OF SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED.
EXPLAINING THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE REVISION OF FEES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS TO REFLECT MORE REALISTICALLY GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES AS ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF OPERATING THE LICENSING SYSTEM HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING LAST YEAR.
DESPITE THE INCREASES, THERE WILL STILL BE A GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY OF $3.61 MILLION IN THE PROVISION OF THESE LICENSING SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FOR A COMPLETE FINANCIAL YEAR, $7.25 MILLION IS EXPECTED TO BE RECOVERED THROUGH LICENCE FEES AGAINST THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $10.86 MILLION FOR SUCH SERVICES.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 2 600 LICENSED PREMISES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND 1 200 PERMITS WERE ALSO ISSUED TO VARIOUS TRADES BY THE NTSD.
WITH THE REVISION, THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR A GENERAL OR MARINE RESTAURANT, FOOD FACTORY, FROZEN CONFECTION FACTORY AND MILK FACTORY RANGES FROM $1 020 TO $51 000 (OLD FEE $840 TO $42 000) WHEREAS THAT FOR A COLD STORE RANGES FROM $2 040 TO $51 000 (OLD FEE $1 680 TO $42 000), DEPENDING ON THE FLOOR AREA OF THE LICENSED PREMISES.
FOR A LIGHT REFRESHMENT RESTAURANT, BAKERY AND FACTORY CANTEEN, THE ANNUAL NEW LICENCE FEE RANGES FROM $730 TO $36 500 (OLD FEE $600 TO $30 000).
/THE LICENCE