Specification of Arrangements (Government of the Kingdom of Denmark) (Avoidance of Double Taxation on Income from Shipping Operation) Order
(Enacting provision omitted—E.R. 4 of 2020)
[17 June 2005]
(Format changes—E.R. 4 of 2020)
For the purposes of section 49 of the Ordinance, it is declared—
that the arrangements specified in section 2 have been made with the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark 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 Kingdom; and
that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect.
The arrangements specified for the purposes of section 1(a) are the arrangements in Articles 1 to 7 of the Agreement between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China and the Kingdom of Denmark for the Avoidance of Double Taxation with respect to Taxes on Income from Shipping Transport done in duplicate at Hong Kong on 9 December 2004 in the English language, the text of which Articles is reproduced in the Schedule.
This Agreement shall apply to enterprises of the Contracting Parties that operate ships in international traffic.
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:
the term “enterprise of a Contracting Party” means:
in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, a business carried on by a person and
| —the business is normally controlled or managed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, or | ||
| —the person is a company incorporated in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; | ||
in the case of Denmark, a business carried on by a person who, under the laws of Denmark, is liable to tax by reason of domicile, residence, place of management and any other criterion of a similar nature;
the term “competent authority” means:
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Commissioner of Inland Revenue or his authorised representative or any person or body authorised to perform any function at present exercisable by the Commissioner or similar functions;
in Denmark, the Minister for Taxation or his authorised representative.
As regards the application of this Agreement at any time by a Contracting Party, any term not defined herein shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the meaning that it has at that time under the laws of that Contracting Party for the purposes of the taxes to which this Agreement applies, any meaning under the applicable tax laws of that Party prevailing over a meaning given to the term under other laws of that Party.
This Agreement shall apply to taxes on income imposed on behalf of a Contracting Party or of its political subdivisions or local authorities, irrespective of the manner in which they are levied.
The existing taxes to which this Agreement shall apply are:
in the case of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, profits tax, whether or not charged under personal assessment;
in the case of Denmark,
the income tax to the State
(indkomstskatten til staten);
the income tax to the municipalities
(den kommunale indkomstskat);
the income tax to the county municipalities
(den amtskommunale indkomstskat).
This Agreement shall apply also to any identical or substantially similar taxes that are imposed after the date of signature of this Agreement in addition to, or in place of, the existing taxes referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, as well as any other taxes falling within the provisions of this Agreement which a Contracting Party may impose in the future. The competent authorities of the Contracting parties shall notify each other of any significant changes that have been made in their respective taxation laws and which may effect the application of the Agreement.
The existing taxes, together with the taxes imposed after the signature of this Agreement, are hereinafter respectively referred to as “Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax” and “Danish tax”.
Profits derived by an enterprise of a Contracting Party from the operation of ships in international traffic shall be taxable only in that Contracting Party.
Profits from the operation of ships in international traffic include:
profits derived from the rental of ships on a full (time or voyage) basis, or on a bareboat basis, provided that in the case of a bareboat rental, the rental is incidental to the operation of ships in international traffic;
profits derived from the use, maintenance or rental of containers (including trailers, barges and related equipment for the transport of containers) used for the transport of goods or merchandise in international traffic if such use, maintenance or rental is incidental to the operation of ships in international traffic;
profits from the sale of tickets or similar documents and the provision of services connected with such operation where such provision of services is incidental to the operation of ships in international traffic, either for the enterprise itself or for another enterprise;
interest on funds directly connected with the operation of ships in international traffic.
The provisions of paragraphs l and 2 shall also apply to profits from the participation in a pool, a joint business or an international operating agency.
Gains derived by an enterprise of a Contracting Party from the alienation of ships operated in international traffic or of movable property (including containers and trailers, barges and related equipment for the transport of containers) pertaining to the operation of such ships shall be taxable only in that Contracting Party.
The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall, through consultation, endeavour to resolve by mutual agreement any difficulties or doubts arising as to the interpretation or application of this Agreement.
Each of the Contracting Parties shall notify the other when the procedures required by its law for the entry into force of this Agreement have been complied with.
The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the later of the notifications referred to in paragraph l and its provisions shall have effect:
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: in respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax, from the year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year in which the Agreement enters into force;
in Denmark, in respect of Danish tax, from the income year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year in which the Agreement enters into force.
This Agreement shall remain in force until terminated by a Contracting Party. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice of termination at least six months before the end of any calendar year, after the fifth year in which the Agreement enters into force. In such event, the Agreement shall cease to have effect
in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, in respect of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region tax, from the year of assessment beginning on or after 1 April in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given;
in Denmark, in respect of Danish tax, from the income year beginning on or after 1 January in the calendar year next following that in which the notice is given.