In response to the lack of adjustments in government fees, the following measures will be introduced to better reflect costs and uphold the "user pays" principle:

Air Passenger Departure Tax:

The rate will increase from HK$120 to HK$200 per passenger, effective from the third quarter of 2025-26. This is expected to generate approximately HK$1.6 billion in annual government revenue, with minimal impact on air passengers.

Application and Visa Fees:

A new application fee of HK$600 will be implemented for various talent and capital investor admission schemes immediately. Visa fees will also be raised to HK$600 or HK$1,300, depending on the duration of stay, potentially increasing revenue by about HK$620 million annually.

Review of Toll Charges:

Following the cancellation of tolls on some major tunnels three years ago, the Transport and Logistics Bureau will review tolls on government tunnels and trunk roads, as some have not been adjusted for over 30 years. This review will include annual license fees for electric vehicles, parking meter charges, and fixed penalties for traffic offenses, with potential additional revenue of around HK$2 billion per year.

Boundary Facilities Fee:

A boundary facilities fee will be explored for private vehicles departing through land boundary control points, set at HK$200 per vehicle. This measure is anticipated to generate approximately HK$1 billion annually, with coaches and goods vehicles exempt from this fee.

Global Minimum Tax Proposal:

A bill submitted to the Legislative Council in January 2025 aims to implement a global minimum tax rate of 15% on large multinational enterprises with annual revenues of at least EUR 750 million. This proposal could yield about HK$15 billion in tax revenue for the government annually, starting from 2027-28, subject to legislative approval.

These measures are intended to ensure that government fees align with their actual costs and contribute to the overall financial sustainability of public services.

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