Specification of Arrangements (Government of the Republic of Croatia Concerning Air Services) (Avoidance of Double Taxation) Order
(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 5 of 2020)
[5 March 2004]
(Format changes—E.R. 5 of 2020)
For the purposes of section 49 of the Ordinance, it is declared—
that the arrangements referred to in section 2 have been made with the Government of the Republic of Croatia with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to income tax and any tax of a similar character imposed by the laws of the Republic; and
that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect.
The arrangements mentioned in section 1 are in Article 9 of the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Croatia done in duplicate at Zagreb on 7 June 2002 in the English and Croatian languages as specified in the Schedule and having effect according to the tenor of that Agreement.
Article 9Avoidance of Double Taxation (1) Income or profits derived from the operation of aircraft in international traffic by an airline of one Contracting Party, including participation in a pool service, a joint air transport operation or an international operating agency, which are subject to tax in the area of that Contracting Party shall be exempt from income tax, profits tax and all other taxes on income or profits imposed in the area of the other Contracting Party. (2) Capital and assets of an airline of one Contracting Party relating to the operation of aircraft in international traffic shall be exempt from taxes of every kind and description on capital and assets imposed in the area of the other Contracting Party. (3) Gains from the alienation of aircraft operated in international traffic and movable property pertaining to the operation of such aircraft which are received by an airline of one Contracting Party shall be exempt from any tax on gains imposed in the area of the other Contracting Party. (4) For the purposes of this Article: (a)the term “income or profits” includes revenues and gross receipts from the operation of aircraft for the carriage of persons, livestock, goods, mail or merchandise in international traffic including:(i)the charter or rental of aircraft;(ii)the sale of tickets or similar documents, and the provision of services connected with such carriage, either for the airline itself or for any other airline; and(iii)interest on funds directly connected with the operation of aircraft in international traffic;(b)the term “international traffic” means any carriage by an aircraft except when such carriage is solely between places in the area of the other Contracting Party;(c)the term “airline of one Contracting Party” means, in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, an airline incorporated and having its principal place of business in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and, in the case of the Republic of Croatia, an airline substantially owned and effectively controlled by the Government of the Republic of Croatia or its nationals;(d)the term “competent authority” means, in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue or his authorised representative, or any person or body authorised to perform any functions at present exercisable by the Commissioner or similar functions, and, in the case of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Finance or their authorised representative. (5) The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall, through consultation, endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any disputes regarding the interpretation or application of this Article. Article 16 (Settlement of Disputes) shall not apply to any such dispute. (6) Notwithstanding Article 20 (Entry into Force) each Contracting Party shall notify to the other the completion of the procedures required by its law for the bringing into force of this Article and the Article shall enter into force on the date of the last written notification. The Article shall then be applied: (a)in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which this Agreement or this Article enters into force, whichever is the later;(b)in the Republic of Croatia, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following that in which this Agreement or this Article enters into force, whichever is the later. (7) Notwithstanding Article 18 (Termination) where notice of denunciation of this Agreement is given under that Article, this Article shall cease to have effect: (a)in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which notice is given;(b)in the Republic of Croatia, for any year of assessment beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following that in which notice is given. (8) This Article shall cease to have effect in the event that an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation with respect to taxes on income, providing for similar exemptions to those in this Article, enters into force between the Contracting Parties.”.