Revised Duty on Alcoholic Beverages in Hong Kong

財政司司長在今天的預算案演辭中說:

含酒精飲品應課稅品稅

我相信調低酒稅會有助本地餐飲、旅遊以至批發零售酒類飲品行業的發展，也令市民大眾受惠。我建議由即時開始，把啤酒及其他酒精濃度不多於百分之三十的酒類飲品稅率，由現時的百分之四十，調低至百分之二十。另外，葡萄酒稅率則由現時百分之八十，調低至百分之四十。這建議會令政府每年的收入減少約3億5,000萬元。

在預算案諮詢期間，有意見認為預算案應更具前瞻性，例如取消酒稅，以增加經濟活動和促進就業，並推動香港發展成為區內酒類飲品的展銷、貿易及物流中心。如果這項具創意的建議獲社會廣泛支持，我願意積極考慮。

(資料來源: http://www.budget.gov.hk/2007/chi/speech.htm)
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In the Budget Speech today, the Financial Secretary said:

Duty on Alcoholic Beverages

I believe that reducing the duty on alcoholic beverages will help promote the development of our catering industry, tourism and wholesale and retail alcoholic beverage trade, thereby benefiting the community at large. I propose that the duty rate on beer and other types of liquor containing not more than 30 per cent of alcohol be reduced from the current 40 per cent to 20 per cent, and that on wine from the current 80 per cent to 40 per cent. These proposals take immediate effect, and will cost the Government about $350 million a year.

During the Budget consultation period, some people suggested that the Budget should be more visionary: for instance, the duty on alcoholic beverages should be abolished to boost economic activities, increase employment and promote the development of Hong Kong as the region's wine exhibition, trading and logistics centre. I am willing to consider this innovative idea further if it enjoys broad community support.

(Source: http://www.budget.gov.hk/2007/eng/speech.htm)