Goods and Services Tax

The goods and services tax (GST) was a proposed value-added tax in Hong Kong. Consultation over a period of nine months was launched on 19 July 2006 and stirred considerable controversy. It launched a fierce debate amongst local taxpayers, lawmakers, journalists, politicians, who hotly debated the need for the tax, and the shape any taxes should take. The plan to levy GST was dropped on 5 December 2006. Objectives The Government argued that Hong Kong's tax base was narrow; thus, a single-rate GST was a viable option for Hong Kong in order to broaden the tax base and secure the sustainability of tax revenues base and the capacity to meet public expenditure needs in the long run.