XN000022-1986-04-30 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1986

CLEARER BASIS FOR MARINE FEES, CHARGES SOUGHT

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• BILL SEEKING TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL BASIS FOR THE SETTING OF FEES, CHARGES AND PORT DUES UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL FEES) BILL 1986, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID CERTAIN FEES SET UNDER THE TWO ORDINANCES, NAMELY THOSE FOR THE KEEPING OF PRIVATE MOORINGS AND FOR PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCES, WERE TOGETHER USED TO RECOVER THE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT OF PROVIDING SERVICES AND FACILITIES TO THE PLEASURE BOATING COMMUNITY,

HE NOTED THAT THE LEVEL OF THOSE FEES AND THE MEANS BY AMICH THEY HAD BEEN SET HAD BEEN CHALLENGED LARGELY ON GROUNDS THAT FEES SHOULD RELATE QUITE SPECIFICALLY

TO THT PARTICULAR SERVICE OR FACILITY PROVIDED RATHER THAN THE GENERALITY OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF THAT SERVICE

FACILITY.

SIR JOHN SAID THAT THE BILL WAS INTENDED TO CLARIFY THE -OSITION AND MAKE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT ANY PORT DUE, FEE OR CHARGE PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL

FINANCE MIGHT BE SET WITH REGARD TO THE GENERALITY OF COSTS.

IT ALSO SET OUT CRITERIA WHICH MIGHT BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT H. DETERMINING MOORING FEES.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED SIMILARLY IN RESPECT OF FEES SET UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE, SIR JOHN SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS UNDER THIS ORDINANCE THAT PLEASURE VESSEL LICENCE FEES WERE PRESCRIBED.

THE VALIDITY OF ALL OTHER EXISTING FEES SET UNDER THE TWO ORDINANCES WAS ALSO CONFIRMED BY A CLAUSE OF THE BILL, HE SAID.

SIR JOHN STRESSED THAT NOTHING IN THE BILL WOULD ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN TO RECOVER THE COST UF OPERATING THE PORT AND HONG KONG'S SHIPPING SERVICES.

+ IT WILL, HOWEVER, ENABLE US TO CHARGE ALL THOSE WHO USE THE PORT AND ITS SERVICES THE IR SHARE OF THE COSTS OF OPERATING THE PORT RATHER THAN THE MORE MODEST CONTRIBUTIONS SOME HAVE ENJOYED IN THE PAST, + HE SAID.

/SIR JOHN