XN000022-1984-03-23 — Page 17

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FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984

BUDGET FEE PROPOSALS ADOPTED

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THREE BUDGET PROPOSALS ON FEES AND CHARGES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED AFTER OBTAINING THE REQUIRED APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.

THE PROPOSALS, EXPLAINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 29, WERE FOR INCREASES IN BUOY AND ANCHORAGE FEES, FEES FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND FOR OVERSEAS BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF BANKS, AND LION ROCK TUNNEL TOLLS.

ANCHORAGE AND BUOY FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1979 AND 1983 RESPECTIVELY, WHILE FEES FOR REGISTERED DTCS' HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 1978 AND THOSE FOR LICENSED DTCS' NOT SINCE 1981. LICENCE FEES FOR AN OVERSEAS BRANCH OR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A BANK INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG AND FOR A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A BANK INCORPORATED OUTSIDE HONG KONG WERE NOT REVISED WHEN LICENCE FEES FOR BANKS WERE INCREASED LAST YEAR.

TOLLS FOR THE LION ROCK TUNNEL, TO BE CHARGED AT A FLAT RATE OF $2 FOR ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES, WERE LAST REVISED IN 1975.

THE NEW FEES AND CHARGES FOR THESE SERVICES ARE GAZETTED TODAY AND WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDENS OPEN SUNDAY

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THE GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM TO ENABLE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO SEE THE AZALEAS IN BLOOM.

THE ANNUAL OPEN DAY HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 1968.

VISITORS ARE REQUESTED TO ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE AND LEAVE BY THE SIDE GATES SO THAT ALL CAN ENJOY THE FLOWERS WITHOUT CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS.

THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ONLY THE GARDENS WILL BE OPEN AND THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE ITSELF.

SCOUTS AND POLICEMEN WILL BE PRESENT AND VISITORS ARE ASKED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THEM TO AVOID OVERCROWDING.

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