China News Service, May 19. According to Hong Kong's Wen Wei Po, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will gazette tomorrow (20th) to extend the exemption or reduction of the existing 34 types of government charges for an additional year to implement the announcement of the 2022/23 Budget. measures.
The relevant measures will take effect one after another from October this year, benefiting a number of industries, including aviation, maritime, logistics, fishing and farming, retail, catering, construction, tourism and entertainment. It is estimated that the SAR government revenue will be reduced by about HK$1.7 billion.
The 34 categories of government fees waived or reduced cover a wide range of topics.
In terms of transportation, logistics and shipping, the exemption of license plate and vehicle inspection fees for commercial vehicles will be extended to December 29 next year, benefiting owners of more than 170,000 commercial vehicles; the exemption of closed road permit fees will be extended to December 29 next year , benefiting the operators of about 13,000 cross-boundary trucks, buses and taxis; extending the exemption of port facility and beacon fees to September 30 next year and stay permit fees until October 31 next year, benefiting about 180,000 ocean-going vessels Operators of arrivals of , high-speed craft and river vessels.
In terms of supporting enterprises and different industries, the SAR government intends to extend the exemption of license fees for hawkers, restaurants, fresh food stores, food factories, factory canteens, bakery bakeries, etc. until September 30 next year, benefiting about 39,000 Name licensee; extend the exemption of industrial and commercial sewage surcharge until December 31 next year, benefiting about 34,000 businesses, mainly food manufacturing and catering; extend the exemption and reduce the fees for minor works contractors and electrical contractors or works The registration fee for personnel will be until October 20 next year and September 30 next year respectively, benefiting about 19,000 minor works contractors and 101,000 electrical contractors or engineering personnel.
The Construction Industry Council will also extend the exemption from registration and renewal fees for construction workers for an additional year until September 30 next year. The measure will benefit about 120,000 construction workers. It is estimated that the Construction Industry Council will reduce its income by about HK$9 million.
Starting from October 2019, the SAR government has successively exempted or reduced the 34 types of government fees for one year, in order to alleviate the operating pressure faced by enterprises in the economic downturn and the epidemic.
Due to the continued impact of the epidemic, the measures have been extended twice for one year.