XN000022-1986-04-04 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 1986

NEW LEGISLATION ON MARINE FEES AND CHARGES

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THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT NEW LEGISLATION WILL BE SOUGHT IN RESPECT OF MARINE FEES AND CHARGES.

EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THESE FEES AND CHARGES, OF WHICH THERE ARE ABOUT 1 000, WERE INCREASED IN JUNE LAST YEAR WITH A VIEW TO RECOVERING À HIGHER PROPORTION OF THE COSTS INCURRED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF HONG KONG'S PORT AND SHIPPING. THE COSTS ARISE FROM SERVICES SUCH AS THE PROVISION OF ANCHORAGES, MOORINGS AND PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS, HARBOUR CLEANSING AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.

THE INCREASES INCLUDED FEES FOR THE KEEPING OF PRIVATE MOORINGS AND FOR PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEE FOR A PRIVATE MOORING CAPABLE OF TAKING A 11 METRE YACHT AT THE CAUSEWAY BAY TYPHOON SHELTER WAS INCREASED TO $500 PER MONTH. THE LEVEL OF THE INCREASED FEE WAS COMPARABLE TO PREVAILING MARKET RATES FOR COMMERCIAL MOORINGS.

SUBSEQUENTLY, HOWEVER, THE LEGAL MEANS BY WHICH THE NEW FEES FOR PRIVATE MOORINGS AND PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCES WERE INTRODUCED WERE QUESTIONED. ACCORDINGLY, IN ORDER TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL BAS LS FOR ALL MARINE FEES AND CHARGES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE INTRODUCING INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL A NEW SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL (FEES) BILL 1986, WHICH WILL BE GAZETTED ON APRIL 11. THIS BILL SEEKS TO PROVIDE A FIRM AND UNEQUIVOCAL LEGAL BASIS FOR THE SETTING OF MARINE FEES AND CHARGES. IF THE BILL IS PASSED INTO LAW, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION THEREAFTER TO SET NEW FEES FOR PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCES, AND FOR MOORINGS HAVING REGARD TO COMMERCIAL MOORING CHARGES. THESE ARE EXPECTED TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THOSE INTRODUCED IN JUNE LAST YEAR.

IN THE MEANTIME, HAVING CONSIDERED THE LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED, WITH EFFECT FROM MAY 1, 1986, TO REVERT THE CURRENT SCALE OF PRIVATE MOORINGS AND PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCE FEES TO THAT WHICH EXISTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO JUNE 1, 1985. SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO REIMBURSE THOSE WHO HAVE PAID THE HIGHER LEVEL OF FEES DURING THE PERIOD JUNE 1, 1985 ONWARDS.

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