TNAG-1362-FCO40-1808-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 137

Sir,

SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL : WEDNESDAY 1 MAY 1985

I move that the Dutiable Commodities (Amendment)

Bill 1985 be read the second time.

The object of the Bill is to amend the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance and Dutiable Commodities Regulations. Following my 1985 Budget Speech proposals this will provide for the introduction of duty on non-alcoholic beverages and cosmetics and bring concentrates under the control of the Ordinance. Clause 5 amends section 26A, which at present is applicable only to imported dutiable goods. The amendment will extend the method of assessing the value of goods to goods manufactured in Hong Kong. The calculation of the normal price of such dutiable goods will be determined on the assumptions that the goods have been delivered to the buyer at his premises and that the seller bears all charges and expenses, including transport, incidental to the sale and the delivery of the goods to the buyer. As is the case for imported goods the buyer will bear any duty payable in

Hong Kong.

The amendments to Clauses 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 are consequential upon the main aim of the Bill. Clause 6 enacts section 27A to enable the Commissioner to require an importer or manufacturer of juice to make a declaration as to the fruit or vegetable from which the juice was extracted. Clause 7 is consequential upon this. Clause 12

amends the Schedule to the Dutiable Commodities Regulations to provide fees for licences in connection with non-alcoholic beverages and cosmetics.

/Sir