GL 60/3/1

11 April 2003

Dear Sirs,

Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 6/2003

Electronic Service for Textiles Notifications :

Authorisation for the Release of Registration Information by

Registered Textiles Traders who Operate Branches

Textiles traders registered under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS) who operate branches are requested to complete the authorisation form at Annex A (pdf format) to authorise the release of information of their registration together with the particulars of their branches to prepare for their use of the new electronic service for lodging Textiles Notifications which is scheduled to be launched on 30 May 2003, subject to the completion of the legislative process.

2. Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/02 of 26 October 2002 announced our plan to introduce electronic service for lodging Textiles Notifications and invited registered textiles traders to complete an authorisation form for return to us so as to enable the transfer of necessary information of their registration to Tradelink Electronic Commerce Ltd (Tradelink), the service provider of the new electronic service, for validation purpose to prepare for their use of the electronic service for lodging Textiles Notifications. To facilitate registered textiles traders who operate branches to give their authorisation for the release of information of the main business together with their branches, the form at Annex A is prepared for their completion.
   
   

3. A registered textiles trader under TTRS and its branch(es)^Note for the same entity may make use of the exemption granted under the same TTRS registration. That is, the main business and the branch(es) may make use of the same TTRS registration to lodge Textiles Notifications to cover the imports and exports of textiles falling under the scope of TTRS. A registered textiles trader who operates branch(es) for the same entity and wishes to allow any of its branch(es) to make use of the same TTRS registration in lodging Textiles Notifications by electronic service is requested to complete the authorisation form at Annex A. Completed authorisation forms can be returned by post or by hand to the TTRS Unit, 12/F, Trade and Industry Department Tower, 700 Nathan Road, Mongkok, Kowloon.
   
   

4. Registered textiles traders who do not operate branches or their branches are not going to make use of the same TTRS registration to lodge Textiles Notifications by electronic service may continue to use the authorisation form annexed to the Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/02, a copy of the authorisation form is given at Annex B  (pdf format) for easy reference.

5. Electronic service for lodging Textiles Notifications is scheduled to be launched on 30 May 2003, subject to the completion of the legislative process. It is to the benefit of registered textiles traders to make use of the service early. The use of electronic service in other statutory trade documents has proven benefits, among which include enabling a shorter turnaround time, greater efficiency with less data re-entry and transcription, lower cost and less paper consumption due to electronic transmission and storage of transactions. Registered textiles traders who wish to make use of electronic service will not be able to do so until they have returned the duly completed authorisation form to this Department.

6. If you have any questions on the content of this letter or the authorisation forms, please contact:

Yours faithfully,