TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 23

uppleme

N

ing on 22.6.96

Lego Meeting on

2

MR. CHEONG-LEEN : Sir, may I ask what is the approximate

loss of government revenue in terms of dollars and cents?

And referring to the principle enunciated by the Financial

Secretary, may I ask whether genuine transit passengers

staying in Hong Kong

Kong for five or six hours could be

exempted from the tax? This, I presume,

presume, is in accordance

with the principle enunciated by the Financial Secretary.

I

The

FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Sir, as I have already indicated in

my main answer, there are considerable cost implications

in making any change. I think it is worth amplifying what

mean by that. Currently the Airport Departure Fax is

collected by the airlines at the same time when passengers

are completing their check-in procedures.

introduction of an exemption for visitors leaving

leaving on the

same day would involve an examination of evidence

certifying that they had arrived on the same day, and this

would, I believe, be more appropriately done by the

Immigration Department who already have more than enough

work on their plate. It would certainly substantially

increase their workload.

le

!