XN000022-1993-03-05 — Page 26

FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1993

25

FEES UNDER GAMBLING AND NEWSPAPERS REGISTRATION LAWS GO UP

* *

REGISTRATION AND LICENCE FEES COLLECTED UNDER THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE AND THE REGISTRATION OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN REVISED WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THESE CHARGES WERE ADJUSTED BROADLY IN ACCORDANCE WITH INFLATION AND THE REVISION WAS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO SET LEVIES AT' A LEVEL THAT WOULD ENABLE THE RECOVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS INVOLVED.

FOR

UNDER THE GAMBLING ORDINANCE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING (CTEL) IS EMPOWERED TO ISSUE LICENCES LOTTERIES, TOMBOLAS, GAMES OF AMUSEMENT WITH PRIZES AND TRADE PROMOTION COMPETITIONS AND CHARGE FOR THESE SERVICES. THESE FEES LAST REVISED IN 1989.

AND

WERE

AS REGARDS THE REGISTRATION OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, CTEL CHARGES A FEE FOR REGISTERING LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS AGENCIES AS WELL AS FOR ISSUING LICENCES ΤΟ NEWSPAPER

DISTRIBUTORS.

FEES ARE ALSO CHARGED FOR THE SEARCHING, INSPECTING AND FOR OBTAINING CERTIFIED EXTRACTS FROM ANY REGISTER OF LOCAL NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS AGENCIES. THE PRESENT LEVEL OF THESE FEES HAS BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE 1988.

SINCE THESE LEVIES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1989 AND 1988, A RECENT REVIEW RECOMMENDED THAT THE FEES SHOULD BE ADJUSTED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE REVISED FEES SHOULD NOT DISCOURAGE ORGANISATIONS FROM APPLYING FOR LICENCES AND REGISTRATIONS AS IT WAS NOT LIKELY TO BE SIGNIFICANT IN COMPARISON WITH THE RETURNS GENERATED.

"IN ADDITION, CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS WILL CONTINUE TO QUALIFY FOR A WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES UNDER THE GAMBLING REGULATIONS.

"IN 1992, FOR INSTANCE, OUT OF A TOTAL OF 261 FEES FOR 110 WERE WAIVED, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.

"

APPLICATIONS,

/THE NEW