In addition to, and as a complement to, the administrative enforcement and
punishment, which are the traditional legal means to secure administrative
effect, surcharge is one of many means newly introduced. Surcharge is viewed
as a punitive charge for administrative purposes imposed by an administrative
authority in proportion to any economic benefits gained due to a violation of
administrative law or regulations or any obligation thereunder in order to
deprive the violator of such economic benefits. 194 It is also known as
monetary burden imposed and collected by an administrative authority to force
the performance of certain administrative order under the applicable laws and
regulations.
It is difficult to give uniform explanation on the meaning and characteristics
of surcharge because surcharge can take various forms, including the variation
of surcharge that may be imposed in lieu of suspension of business.