A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (June 7) that the Hong Kong Air Navigation (Fees) (Amendment) Regulation 2017 will be gazetted on Friday (June 9) to revise the fees and charges levied by the Civil Aviation Department (CAD) on the aviation industry.

     The major changes of the Regulation include:

(a) adjusting the level of certain fees or maximum fee amounts prescribed in the Schedule to the Hong Kong Air Navigation (Fees) Regulations with a view to achieving full-cost recovery;

(b) rationalising the fee structure for Air Operator's Certificate by reducing the existing five weight brackets to three weight brackets; and

(c) removing the minimum fee of certain items to better reflect the actual costs of the CAD in providing related services.

     "The fees and charges under the Hong Kong Air Navigation (Fees) Regulations were last revised in January 2012. This time, the revision is made in line with the full-cost recovery policy and in accordance with the 'user pays' principle. In view of the effect of the adjustment on the aviation industry, certain fees and charges will be raised gradually over a period of three years. The impact of the new fee levels on the operation of the industry is expected to be insignificant," the spokesperson said.

     The Regulation provides for the statutory fees and charges related to civil aviation, covering mainly the licensing of local airlines, air crews, maintenance organisations, aeronautical engineers, training organisations and the Hong Kong International Airport, and granting of relevant certificates and permits (e.g. the Air Operator's Certificate, the Certificate of Airworthiness and permission to carry, load or suspend dangerous goods). All of these charges are unrelated to the livelihood of the general public.

     The Regulation will be tabled before the Legislative Council on June 14 and will take effect from November 1.

Ends/Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Issued at HKT 17:05

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