Inland Revenue Centre in Kai Tak Development Area officially opens (with photos)
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The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, delivered a pre-recorded speech for the event. Officiating at the ceremony were the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui; the Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Treasury), Miss Cathy Chu; the Acting Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mr Leung Kin-wa; and the Director of Architectural Services, Mr Edward Tse.
Mr Chan, in his pre-recorded speech, said, "Established over 75 years ago, the IRD has been a tax administration body managing the most important source of government revenue, as well as promoting and contributing to the development of taxation in Hong Kong. With the increasing diversification of its business, the IRD has relocated its offices a few times, expanding from a small one to its dedicated building today. It is not only a testament to the development and growth of Hong Kong's economy, but also an acknowledgement of our IRD colleagues' efforts and achievements over the years."
Mr Chan said that the IRC, located in the Kai Tak Development Area, was one of the buildings under the Energizing Kowloon East initiatives. The location of the IRC in Kowloon East, the second core business district in Hong Kong, bears a special meaning as the work of the IRD is closely related to Hong Kong's economy and industrial and commercial development.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Leung said, "The IRD was established on April 1, 1947. Over time, the size of our staff has grown from fewer than 100 to 3 000 strong. We now also own our dedicated departmental building. These not only witnessed the growth of the department, but also marked an important milestone in Hong Kong's taxation development."
Mr Leung thanked the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, accounting professional bodies, the IRD Users' Committee and different sectors of the community for their support and co-operation with the IRD in the past years. He also expressed gratitude to the Architectural Services Department, the construction contractor and the consultant team for the smooth completion of the IRC.
Located at 5 Concorde Road, the IRC is the new dedicated office building for the IRD and is adjacent to the Trade and Industry Tower and the MTR Kai Tak Station. With a site area of about 9 832 square metres, the main building is 17 storeys above ground. During its course of design and construction, emphasis was placed on the incorporation of green elements in different aspects, including the choice of building materials, energy use, water consumption, greenery and indoor and outdoor environmental quality, in order to enhance the environmental performance of the building on various fronts.
The majority of the IRD's units and sections have been relocated to the new building. The remaining Computer Back Up (Accounts) Section, Estate Duty Office, Refund Section and Tax Reserve Certificates Section, currently located at the Revenue Tower, Wan Chai, are expected to move to the new premises in May.
For information on access to the IRC and the opening hours of the various sections of the IRD, please visit the following website: www.ird.gov.hk/eng/cu_ol.htm.
Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:27
Issued at HKT 18:27
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