Certificate of Preference Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref. : TID CL CO/605

28 December 2007

Dear Sirs,

Certificate of Preference Circular No. 3/2007

Export of Antiques to the United Kingdom and New Zealand

As announced in Certificate of Preference Circular No. 9/92 of 24 July 1992, the Trade and Industry Department provides a service of endorsing declarations in support of antiques (i.e. articles which are over 100 years old) claiming tax exemption when imported from Hong Kong into the United Kingdom or New Zealand. The purpose of this circular is to remind antique dealers of the availability of this service and to describe the existing application procedures for the endorsement of statutory declarations.

2. An applicant should first obtain a Declaration Form TRA 541, a copy is at Appendix I (pdf format) , from the Customer Service Centre of the Origin Certification and Textiles Licensing Branch. It can also be downloaded from the following website:
   http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/form/publicform/cert/files/e8135.pdf. The applicant should state the full description of the antique to be exported and the name and address of the overseas importer on the Declaration Form. The declaration should be sworn either by the antique dealer himself or his representative before an authorized person, i.e. Justice of Peace, Notary Public, Commissioner for Oaths in the Supreme Court or the Trade and Industry Department. The Commissioner for Oaths in the Trade and Industry Department can be contacted at the Origin Certification and Textiles Licensing Branch of the Department.

3. The applicant should then present the original Declaration (together with a photocopy) and a completed application form TRA 343, a copy is at Appendix II (pdf format) , to the Customer Service Centre of the Origin Certification and Textiles Licensing Branch. Copies of the application form TRA 343 may be obtained from the Customer Service Centre or downloaded from the following website: 
   http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/form/publicform/cert/files/e8123.pdf. A fee of $1,290 (Note) will be charged for each application.

4. As a condition for the application, the applicant must keep the consignment in question at the declared location for at least four clear working days and produce it for inspection upon request by authorized officers of the Customs and Excise Department.

5. The original Declaration will be retained by the Department. Photocopy of the Declaration will be endorsed and ready for collection normally four clear working days after receipt of the application. The applicant may send the endorsed photocopy to the overseas importer for presentation to the Customs authorities in the United Kingdom or New Zealand as appropriate.

6. For any enquiries, please contact the following officer :

Yours faithfully,


(Thomas Li)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

To: All antique dealers known to the Department
     Trade and Industrial Associations

Note : The endorsement fee will be revised from $1,539 to $1,290 with effect from 1 January 2008.

The Chinese text of this Circular is for reference only. In case of discrepancies between the English and Chinese texts, the English text shall for all purposes be conclusive.