XN000022-1989-02-10 — Page 12

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1989

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LIKEWISE, THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEES OF $150 PER SITE AREA OF 100 SQUARE METRES OR LESS PAYABLE FOR THE GRANT OR RENEWAL OF A LICENCE FOR A FISH CULTURE FARM UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE WILL BE ADJUSTED TO $300.

NOTICES ABOUT THESE FEE INCREASES, APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL LAST WEEK, WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.

ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE INCREASES, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THESE FEES WERE REVISED TO COVER COSTS OF THE SERVICES RENDERED UNDER THE ORDINANCES.

"AS THE LEVEL OF THE ANIMAL REMOVAL FEES WAS FIRST SET IN 1947, A BIGGER INCREASE IS NOW NECESSARY IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S COST RECOVERY POLICY.

"ALTHOUGH THE LEVEL OF INCREASE MAY SEEM HIGH PERCENTAGE THEY ARE INSIGNIFICANT IN MONEY TERMS.

WISE,

"FURTHERMORE, THE NEW FEES STILL DO NOT REFLECT THE FULL COST OF THE SERVICE. IT IS THEREFORE OUR INTENTION TO FURTHER REVIEW THE FEE LEVELS IN 1990 WITH A VIEW ΤΟ RECOVERING THE FULL COST, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FEES CHARGED FOR THE PHYTOSANITARY EXAMINATION OF PLANTS WERE LAST REVISED IN 1982 AND BECAUSE OF THE LAPSE OF TIME, THEY HAD TO BE ADJUSTED TO MEET THE INCREASED COSTS FOR ADMINISTERING THE SERVICES.

ON THE LICENCE FEE FOR OPERATING A FISH CULTURE FARM, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LEVEL OF FEE WAS SET WELL BELOW THE COST OF ADMINISTERING THE LICENCE WHEN THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1981, AND THAT THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A REVISION SINCE THEN.

"TO RECOVER THE SHORTFALL IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST OF THE LICENCE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO PHASE THE FEE INCREASES BY ADJUSTING THE FEE LEVEL FROM $150 TO $300 AND FURTHER REVIEWING THE LEVEL OF LICENCE FEE IN 1990," HE ADDED.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE FEE INCREASES CAN BE MADE TO THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS/UNIT OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT:

TELEPHONE NO.

LIVESTOCK IMPORT AND QUARANTINE SECTION

PLANTS AND PESTICIDE REGULATORY UNIT

FISHERIES LICENSING AND REGULATORY SECTION

3-7332161

3-7332162

3-7332186

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