3 December 2014
A government spokesman today (December 3) announced that from February 9 next year, the Immigration Department will revise fees for some services, including the issuing of visas/entry permits and travel documents, the replacement of identity cards, and the processing of applications relating to nationality matters and appointment/re-appointment as civil celebrants.
"It is the Government's established policy that fees charged by the Government should in general be set at levels sufficient to recover the full cost of providing the service," the spokesman said.
The fees for the issuing of visas/entry permits and travel documents, the replacement of identity cards and the processing of applications relating to nationality matters and appointment/re-appointment as civil celebrants, as well as others, have been maintained at their existing level for at least eight years. A recent costing review showed that most of the fees payable are not adequate to recover the full cost of providing those services.
"Based on the government-wide general guidelines for fee increases, the fees of the services concerned will be increased by 10 per cent to 21 per cent. The proposals will have little impact on the daily life of most people and only very limited impact on general business activities," the spokesman added.
The Immigration Department regularly reviews the arrangements for handling various types of applications and services with a view to improving the cost-effectiveness as well as the quality of services. Measures are in place to control the cost of providing the services.
The relevant amendment regulations/amendment orders will be tabled at the Legislative Council on December 10. The fee revision will take effect after completion of the necessary legislative procedures. A table outlining the existing and revised fees is at Annex.
