Hong Kong government to waive licence fees for hard-hit sectors

The Hong Kong government said Wednesday it will waive several key licensing fees for a year starting July in a bid to help sectors hard-hit by the economic downturn. Starting July 1, fees payable for the issue or renewal of licences necessary to sell liquor or operate cinemas, karaoke establishments, travel agents, vehicles, hotels and guesthouses will be waived, the government said in a statement.
A government spokesman said the waiver policy would cost a total of 670 million Hong Kong dollars (85.90 million US). The policy is part of a relief package announced by Financial Secretary John Tsang in May to alleviate the burden of sectors that were most seriously affected by the global economic downturn and the potential impact of swine flu. The waivers come as the government is set to enforce a blanket smoking ban in public places from July 1, aimed at protecting workers in the city's bars, night-clubs, bathhouses, massage establishments and mah-jong parlours from second-hand smoke.