|
Hong Kong's government has agreed to the proposal of lowering pilotage fees at Hong Kong port.
The proposed reduction in fees concerns where a pilot is required to board or disembark from a ship off the local island of Ngan Chau or at the west of Lamma Island, and the Poilotage Advisory Committee has agreed for rates to go down from HKD1,900 (USD245) to HKD1,820 (USD234)for a period of 18 months in this area.
A Transport and Housing Bureau spokesman said: 'Pilotage dues are commercial fees charged by licensed pilots for the provision of pilotage services. The fee levels are periodically reviewed by the Hong Kong Liner Shipping Association, representing the service users, and the Hong Kong Pilots Association, representing the service providers. The proposed reduction in pilotage dues has been agreed between the two parties and endorsed by the Pilotage Advisory Committee.'
The order for the fees will be tabled at the Hong Kong Legislative Council on December 9, 2009.
Hong Kong's government has made several moves to slash fees this year, in response to the downturn. In May port fees were slashed by a third, with the reduction in rates including tonnage dues, navigation charges and charges for issuing port clearance.
Hong Kong's throughput for 2008 grew by a mere 1% to 22.24 million TEU. It was number three in the global league behind Singapore and Shanghai, and ahead of Shenzhen, which registered a volume of 21.4 million TEU.
Source: CI-Online Author: Rebecca Moore |
Back:
Next:
