XN000022-1995-06-14 — Page 41

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A recent review of fees and charges collected by Immigration Department has indicated that in various areas, the Department is not recovering its costs: these are, the registration of persons, where the average shortfall is about 16%; the registration of births, deaths and marriages, where the average shortfall is about 26%; and the issue of travel documents, where the average shortfall is about 16%.

It is Government policy to provide services to the public on a cost-recovery basis, unless there are good reasons for doing otherwise. We are, therefore, proposing to revise the fees in the three areas I have mentioned. Full details of the increases proposed are contained in the Annex which I have tabled for the information of Members.

The fees to be revised were last revised in July 1994. If approved, the new fees will be introduced on 1 July this year.

Mr President, I beg to move.

End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995

Revision of Foreign Marriage Ordinance

1

Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Security, Mr. Ken Woodhouse, in moving the motion for fees and charges specified in the Foreign Marriage Ordinance be revised in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move the second motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. It seeks to increase the fees specified in the Foreign Marriage Ordinance.

The Foreign Marriage Ordinance provides a means whereby Commonwealth citizens, can give a notice of marriage in Hong Kong, even though the marriage has taken place at the British Embassy abroad. Fees are payable for the issue of a certificate by the Registrar of Marriage. The fees were last revised in July 1994 and it is now proposed to increase them from $40 to $55, for a certificate by the Registrar of Marriages, given under Section 5, and from $400 to $540, for a Governor's licence, given under Section 6 of this Ordinance.

Mr President, I beg to move.

End/Wednesday, June 14, 1995