XN000022-1991-02-27 — Page 14

13

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991

THAT

BILL

PROVIDED

MR ASPREY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT CLAUSE 8 OF THE VESSELS SEIZED AS A RESULT OF INVOLVEMENT IN SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES UNDER THE NEW OFFENCES WERE LIABLE TO FOREFEITURE.

"I BELIEVE THE MEASURES I HAVE OUTLINED TODAY WILL GREATLY ASSIST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST SMUGGLING, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

FEE REVISIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS

A MOTION PROPOSING INCREASES IN THE FRES SPECIFIED IN THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS AND RELATED MATTERS WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ON A COST-RECOVERY BASIS UNLESS THERE WERE VERY GOOD SOCIAL REASONS FOR DOING OTHERWISE.

HE SAID A RECENT REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES COLLECTED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SHOWED THAT THERE WAS AN OVERALL UNDER-RECOVERY OF ABOUT 25 PER CENT OF THE COST OF SERVICES PROVIDED.

OF

SHORT

PERSONS,

"IN THREE AREAS IN PARTICULAR, THE DEPARTMENT IS WELL RECOVERING ITS COSTS: THESE ARE THE REGISTRATION OF REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, AND ISSUE OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS.

"IN RESPECT OF THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES, ONLY 20 PER CENT OF COSTS ARE BEING RECOVERED, HE SAID.

MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS THEREFORE TAKING ACTION TO COSTS WERB REVISE THE FEES WHICH HE HAD MENTIONED IN ALL CASES WHERE NOT BEING RECOVERED.

"THE PROPOSED INCREASES RANGE FROM 20 PER CENT TO 100 PER CENT,

PER AND WILL INCREASE THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF COSTS RECOVERED TO 85 CENT.

"WE AIM PROGRESSIVELY TO INCREASE THE FEES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS TO RECOVER COSTS IN FULL, HE SAID.

AND

"

THE FEES TO BE REVISED UNDER THE MOTION MOVED UNDER THE BIRTHS

REGISTRATION DEATHS

ORDINANCE INCLUDED THOSE

THE FOR MATTERS SUCH А9 THE REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, AND RELATED

COPIES OF ISSUE OF CERTIFIED

ENTRIES IN REGISTERS, SEARCH OF RECORDS, CORRECTION OF ERRORS AND ALTERATION OF ENTRIES IN REGISTERS.

/"ALL THE