Hong Kong to earn extra HK$104 million yearly from visa, passport fee rises
Hong Kong authorities have proposed raising application fees for a raft of visas and identity documents to generate an additional HK$104 million (US$13.3 million) in income annually, with a 48-page passport to cost as much as HK$520.
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The Security Bureau revealed its proposal to increase fees for 28 services in a document submitted to the legislature on Monday, with rates projected to rise by between 3 per cent and 51 per cent and take effect in September.
Last revised in 2000, the fee for issuing a 48-page passport for people aged 16 or above will rise by 13 per cent from HK$460 to HK$520. Children under 16 will be charged HK$260, up from HK$230.
A 32-page passport for people 16 or above will cost HK$430, a 16 per cent increase from the current HK$370. Younger Hongkongers will have to pay HK$215, up from HK$185. The rates were last amended in 2006.
The proposal is expected to generate an extra HK$104 million more for the public coffers every year, according to authorities.
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The bureau explained that the price review was based on 'cost recovery' and 'user-pays' principles, as the fees should be 'adequate to recover the full cost of providing the goods or services' in general.
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