RPT-Hong Kong drivers stage go-slow fuel tax protest

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HONG KONG, June 10 (Reuters) - About 500 minibuses, lorries, garbage trucks and coaches staged a go-slow protest in parts of Hong Kong on Tuesday, crippling traffic in a demonstration calling for fuel taxes to be scrapped as global oil prices soar.

Hundreds of demonstrators later converged on foot on Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang's office, demanding to meet him and arguing if the government could scrap wine duties, it should give drivers relief by slashing fuel taxes.

They threatened further action this week if officials refused to meet them.

In February, Hong Kong posted a record 2007/08 budget surplus, prompting the former British colony's financial secretary to announce a populist package of tax concessions and handouts, including dropping duties on imported wine and beer.

"The citizens do not benefit from red wine being made tax free," said Dobbie Cheng, a spokesperson for the organising Fuel Price Concerning Transportation Joint Conference.

The cost of diesel had almost doubled to HK$13.60 per litre compared to HK$7.60 a year ago, Cheng said.

For light diesel oil, which is used in lorries, the tax is HK$2.89 per litre and for ultra low sulphur diesel it is HK$1.11 per litre, according to the Hong Kong government's Customs and Excise Department.

"If today we cannot see the CE (Chief Executive) we will make a stronger action tomorrow," Cheng said. (Reporting by Amrita Sheokand and John Ruwitch; Editing by David Fox)