24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : (7) in TID GR/1-90/4

26 June 2006

Dear Sirs,

Trade and Industry Department Circular

Notice to Exporters

Series 1 (USA) No. 6/2006

Series 2 (EU) No. 9/2006

Series 3 (Countries other than USA & EU) No. 6/2006

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 9/2006

Certificate of Preference Circular No. 2/2006

Commercial Information Circular No. 236/2006

Import Licensing (Textiles) Circular No. 6/2006

Rough Diamond Trader Registration Circular No. 5/2006

Strategic Trade Control Circular No. 7/2006

Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 6/2006

Rainstorm Warning

This circular informs traders of the arrangements on provision of public services by the Trade and Industry Department when a Rainstorm Warning is issued by the Hong Kong Observatory with effect from 1 July 2006.

Rainstorm Amber Warning or Rainstorm Red Warning

2. Under a Rainstorm Amber Warning or a Rainstorm Red Warning, public services provided by the Department will continue as normal.

Rainstorm Black Warning

3. If a Rainstorm Black Warning is issued during working hours, public services provided by the Department will continue. However, individual officers may be released, having regard to their personal circumstances, traffic conditions, availability of transport services, etc. hence certain services may be affected. Traders may have to expect a longer waiting time for provision of services.

4. If the Rainstorm Black Warning is issued before working hours, offices of the Department will not be opened and public services will be suspended. If the warning is subsequently cancelled at or before 3:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday, the Department will resume public services. The timing for progressive resumption of services will be announced on the radio. Should conditions (e.g. weather and traffic conditions, etc) permit, it is expected that public services can resume normal within two hours after the warning has been cancelled. Whilst the Department will make every effort to provide normal public services after cancellation of the warning, there is a possibility that provision of certain services might be delayed and the service standards stipulated in the Performance Pledge might not be met due to circumstances beyond the Department's anticipation and control.

5. If the Rainstorm Black Warning is issued before working hours and cancelled after 3:30 p.m. on Monday to Friday, offices of the Department will be closed and public services will be suspended for the remaining working hours of the day.

Enquiry

6. Enquiries relating to the above arrangements should be directed to 2398 5333.

(Traders please note that enquiry service will also be suspended when offices of the Department are closed under a Rainstorm Black Warning, except pre-recorded messages provided by the 24-hour interactive voice response system which will continue to be available through the hotline No. 2392 2922. You may also visit our website at http://www.tid.gov.hk for information.)

Yours faithfully,

(Mrs. Louisa CHEUNG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry