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HK Govt Continues to Freeze Livelihood-Related Fees
Donald Tsang, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), announced Monday, November 27, that the government will freeze four major categories of livelihood-related fees and extend concessionary duty rate of ultra-low sulfur diesel as two relief measures for the public.
Speaking a stand up media session, Tsang said there will be no increase in water tariffs, sewage charges, school fees and medicalfees until an appropriate later date.
The concessionary duty rate of 1.11 HK dollars (14 US cents) per liter on ultra-low sulfur diesel will be extended for a further six months from January 1 to June 30, 2001, when it will return to 2.00 HK dollars (26 US cents), he added.
"I am confident that these two special measures I have just announced -- a further freeze on four major livelihood fee categories and the extended ULSD concession -- will bring about psychological and economic relief to the general public and the transport trade," Tsang said.
He said most of the government fees and charges have been frozen since February 1998 as part of the relief package introduced to help Hong Kong ride out the economic storm.
Tsang said there is no predetermined time frame as to when the revision of these fees will be resumed.
"However, we will keep this constantly under review having regard to the economic situation of Hong Kong and the community at large. In due course, Bureau Secretaries will consult the relevant Panels in the Legislative Council on the appropriate timing of the revision," he added.
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