From: The alcohol industry lobby and Hong Kong’s zero wine and beer tax policy
Year | Month | Event |
---|---|---|
2000 | June | A commissioned consultancy study on the assessment of Hong Kong’s potential to develop into a distribution and trading centre is completed by the Trade and Industry Bureau together with Hong Kong Trade Development Council (1999–2000). |
2000 | August | Financial Secretary Donald Tsang indicates Hong Kong is well placed to develop into a wine distribution hub for Asia. |
2001 | February | Financial Secretary Donald Tsang proposes to increase the duty rate on beer from 30 percent to 40 percent. |
2002 | February | Financial Secretary Anthony Leung proposes to increase the duty rate on wine from 60 percent to 80 percent. |
2002 | Coalition of alcohol industry actors (HKWSIC) begins to form. | |
2002 | June | Legislator Tommy Cheung requests the government to provide a timeline for the development of wine hub |
2004 | December | The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau launches a Public Consultation on the Duty on Alcoholic Beverages. |
2006 | January | The HKWSIC calls for alcohol tax cut in a media interview |
2006 | November | The HKWSIC urges the government to lower alcohol duties at press conference |
2006 | December | The Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong support the alcohol duty reduction |
2007 | February | The HKWSIC hosts a press conference to advocate the alcohol tax reduction |
2007 | February | Financial Secretary Henry Tang proposes to reduce the duty rate on beer from 40 percent to 20 percent, and on wine from 80 percent to 40 percent. |
2008 | January | The HKWSIC submits its proposal on Hong Kong as a wine hub to the Treasury Bureau |
2008 | February | The HKWSIC hosts a press conference to urge the government to slash alcohol taxes |
2008 | February | Financial Secretary John Tsang proposes to exempt the duties on wine and beer and all other alcoholic beverages except spirits. |
2008 | June | Amendment of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance Cap. 109 which provides for suspension of the licensing/permit requirement for import/export, storage, manufacturing and movement of the selected alcoholic liquors. |