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WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1986
SIR JOHN NOTED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN AN INCREASE IN MOORING AND OTHER FEES SINCE 1970.
+AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF CAUSEWAY BAY IS GIVEN UP TO PRIVATE BOATS. IF THEY DO NOT PAY A FAIR IMPOST THERE MUST BE A CASE FOR LAND RECLAMATION OR FOR EXPANDED TYPHOON-PROOF FACILITIES FOR WORKING CRAFT AND FISHING JUNKS,+ HE SAID.
SIR JOHN REITERATED THAT CHARITABLE OR WELFARE ORGANISATIONS NEED HAVE NO WORRY REGARDING THIS BILL AS ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY EXISTED FOR FEES TO BE REBATED, OR SUBVENTIONS INCREASED, TO ENSURE THAT ANY GENUINE ADVERSE EFFECTS MIGHT BE AMELIORATED.
ON THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS, SIR JOHN SAID THE HONG KONG YACHTING ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN GIVEN SIX WEEKS TO PROPOSE METHODS FOR CALCULATING MOORING FEES.
SHIPPING FEES BILL COMES IN TIMELY
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THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (FEES) BILL 1986 IS A TIMELY PIECE OF LEGISLATION AND SERVES TO REAFFIRM THE POLICY THAT IT IS IN THE MACRO INTEREST OF HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW A POLICY OF LOW RATES OF DIRECT TAXATION, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
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SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHEONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE ALL NECESSARY STEPS TO MAINTAIN IN REAL TERMS THE YIELDS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT FEES AND CHARGES, HAVING REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLE THAT COST TO THE PUBLIC PURSE OF PROVIDING SERVICES AND FACILITIES SHOULD, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, BE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO USED THEM.
+SUCH POLICIES, WHICH ARE REALLY FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC SURVIVAL, MUST BE WORTHY OF OUR SUPPORT, HE STRESSED.
+FURTHERMORE, THE SCALE OF CHARGES TO BE LEVIED AT HK$500 PER MONTH FOR AN AVERAGE SIZE YACHT IS NOT MUCH MORE THAN THE AVERAGE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTIONS NEEDED FOR BECOMING MEMBERS OF MOST RECREATIONAL CLUBS IN HONG KONG IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PROVIDED, HE SAID..
EARLIER IN HIS SPEECH, MR CHEONG APPLAUDED THE GOVERNMENT IN ITS HANDLING OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1985 AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (FEES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1985 WHICH HE SAID FULLY DEMONSTRATED HOW WELL HONG KONG'S SYSTEM HAD BEEN PERFORMING.
/+THESE REGULATIONS