Fees relating to the registration of news agencies and local newspapers, and licence fees for distributors will be revised from December 1, with two reductions and nine increases.

Home Affairs Bureau said the fees have remained unchanged since 1994. To set fees at levels adequate to recover the full cost of providing the services along with government policy, fees for nine services will rise 9% to 20% while the annual renewal of news agency and local newspaper registration will be cut 8% and 13%.

The fee revision entails:

* annual renewal of news agency registration - down 8%, from $785 to $725;

* annual renewal of local newspaper registration - down 13%, from $785 to $680;

* search for a news agency register - up 14%, from $28 to $32;

* certified true copy of a news agency register - up 9%, from $115 to $125;

* first application of a news agency - up 15%, from $785 to $905;

* change of particulars of a news agency - up 20%, from $83 to $100;

* search for a newspaper register - up 18%, from $28 to $33;

* certified true copy of a newspaper register - up 13%, from $115 to $130;

* first registration of local newspaper - up 15%, from $785 to $905;

* change of particulars of local newspaper registration - up 20%, from $83 to $100; and,

* annual renewal of newspaper distributor's licence - up 10%, from $785 to $865.

The bureau said after the adjustments, three of the fee items will achieve full cost recovery while fee increases are expected for the remaining eight items. Revenue generated may be cut, with the reduction estimated to be about $25,000 a year.

The bureau said the fee revision will have very little impact on people's daily lives or the running cost of business operators.