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The Government today (January 25) announced the implementation of a new measure to facilitate the operation of testing and calibration laboratories ("testing laboratories") in industrial buildings.
Currently, the leases of industrial buildings usually contain user restrictions. The uses permitted under such leases are typically specified as "industrial and/or godown purposes". However, testing laboratories not involving a primary manufacturing use are not considered as industrial use in the context of land leases. The owners of industrial buildings housing testing laboratories may apply to the Lands Department for a waiver to permit the use, subject to the payment of a waiver fee and an administrative fee.
Under the new measure, the Government will exempt the waiver fee that would otherwise be chargeable for issuing waivers to allow the use of the entirety or part(s) of an industrial building under a general industrial land lease as testing laboratories. Applications would only be accepted for processing if the premises concerned are located in an industrial building where testing laboratory use is permitted under the current land use zoning of the site on the statutory plan, or is granted planning permission by the Town Planning Board, or is considered as an existing use under the provisions of the statutory plan.
Applications under the new measure may be submitted to the Lands Department from February 1. They are subject to the payment of an administrative fee. The Lands Department may seek advice from the Innovation and Technology Commission in deciding whether or not the use as stated in an application is an eligible testing laboratory use.
The implementation details including requirements for application are set out in Practice Note No. 1/2016 (www.landsd.gov.hk/en/legco/lpn.htm) issued by the Lands Department today.
"Implementation of the new measure would facilitate the operation of testing laboratories in Hong Kong, and hence the promotion of the testing and certification industry. The Government hopes that it would offer testing laboratories more choices of suitable space in the market," a spokesman for the Innovation and Technology Commission said. "Applicants are also advised to engage competent professionals to assist them in submitting applications."
The Chief Executive announced in the 2016 Policy Address on January 13 that the Government would forgo the relevant waiver fees for testing laboratories to operate in industrial buildings. For further background about the new measure and the testing and certification industry, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Council for Testing and Certification (www.hkctc.gov.hk/en/support.html).
Ends/Monday, January 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 17:00
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