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The spokesman said the government's policy was to set fees based on full-cost recovery so that those receiving the services would pay for them and not the taxpayers. The fees were last increased in July 1995.
"A recent costing review has shown that most of the fees are lagging behind and the cost recovery rate is only 67 per cent overall," he said.
"However, to minimise the impact which the increases may have on the public, fee increases of nine per cent to 13 per cent are proposed for most services in this revision," he added.
The increases in dollar terms are small, mostly ranging from $5 to $30 for services under the Immigration Ordinance and Registration of Persons Ordinance, and mostly below $50 for services relating to registration of births, deaths and marriages.
The spokesman said even after the fee revision, the department would only be able to recover about 71 per cent of the total cost for these services.
Fee increases which require the approval of the Legislative Council by resolution will be submitted to LegCo Members for consideration on June 26.
End
Marine parks and reserves regulation gazetted
The Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation made under the Marine Parks Ordinance was gazetted today (Friday).
The regulation, which provides for the management and control of marine parks and reserves as well as to prohibit or control certain activities in these areas, will become effective on July 15.
An Agriculture and Fisheries Department spokesman said under the regulation, certain activities will be prohibited inside a marine park or marine reserve.
The spokesman said: "Under the regulation, no one shall fish or hunt, remove any animal or plant or carry out water-skiing in a marine park or marine reserve.