Overseas artists who performed in the HK Harbour Fest are required to pay tax, Financial Secretary Henry Tang says, adding that their total tax bill is estimated to be more than $9 million.

Responding to a question raised by Legislative Councillor Leung Yiu-chung, Mr Tang said overseas artists are required to pay tax on payments received from their Hong Kong performances according to the Inland Revenue Ordinance. 

Non-residents can be charged tax directly or in the name of their agents.

Red Canvas, the special arm the Hong Kong American Chamber of Commerce set up to organise Harbour Fest, is in the process of settling the tax for overseas artists who performed in the show with the Inland Revenue Department.

For some artists, Red Canvas withheld performance fees for tax payment while other artists will pay the tax directly to the department.