XN000022-1991-04-24 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1991

THE

TEMPORARY NATURE OF FOR AIRLINES

THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT APART FROM THE RE-ROUTEING, CERTAIN FACTORS MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT

TO ASSESS THE IMPACT OF THE USE OF THE ROUTE ON THEIR OPERATING COSTS.

THESE FACTORS ARE:

*

PRICES VOLATILE FUEL

AND A DRAMATIC TRAFFIC, DUE TO THE IMPACT OF THE GULF OPERATING COSTS AND REVENUES;

IN DROP

WAR,

PASSENGER AFFECTED BOTH

*

THE THREE COUNTRIES

OVERFLOWN

HAD NOT YET

DECIDED

WHAT

EN-ROUTE NAVIGATION CHARGES THEY WISH TO LEVY; AND

*

EXTRA COSTS WERE INCURRED BY AIRLINES IN ESTABLISHING TEMPORARY STOPOVER STATIONS FOR SOME FLIGHTS.

NEVERTHELESS

THE MRS CHAN SAID IN THE LONGER TERM HOPED IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SECURE ACCESS FOR HONG KONG AIRLINES THE SHORTER ROUTEING ON A PERMANENT BASIS.

GOVERNMENT

ΤΟ

"THIS WILL REQUIRE

AGREEMENT

ΤΟ

BE

INTER-GOVERNMENTAL

LEVEL WITH

THE SOVIET, MONGOLIAN

REACHED AND CHINESE

AT

AUTHORITIES," SHE SAID.

COLLECTION OF DUTY ON CIGARETTES EXPLAINED

DUTY ON CIGARETTES IMPORTED FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION IS PAID BEFORE THEY ARE REMOVED FROM WAREHOUSES, OR THE SHIP, VEHICLE ON WHICH THEY WERE IMPORTED, OR AS THE CASE MAY RAILWAY PREMISES.

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON RITA FAN.

AIRCRAFT, BE, FROM

MACLEOD, WRITTEN

MADE

INTO

A SIMILAR SYSTEM OPERATED WHERE IMPORTED TOBACCO WAS CIGARETTES LOCALLY, HE SAID, ADDING THAT NO DUTY WAS LEVIED ON CIGARETTES FOR RE-EXPORT.

MR MACLEOD ALSO PROVIDED A MONTHLY BREAKDOWN OF REVENUE COLLECTED FROM DUTY ON CIGARETTES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, AS GIVEN BELOW:

/REVENUE COLLECTION