Textiles Trader Registration Circulars

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

Dear Sirs,

Introduction of Electronic Service for Textiles Notifications :
Completion of Electronic Textiles Notifications

Introduction

Further to Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 12/2003 of 12 May 2003 informing traders that electronic service for textiles notifications will be available as from 30 May 2003, this circular informs and reminds traders on the details in completing electronic textiles notifications.

1. Declaration

Registered textiles traders can select the relevant declaration codes in making standard declarations for their electronic textiles notifications. In case a registered textiles trader needs to provide further details or declarations or make special statements for a textiles notification, the trader should provide the details under "Special Declaration/ Statement". For instance, in the case of completing an Import Notification covering returned cargo of textiles, the registered textiles trader is required to give the reference number of the Export Notification or Export Licence under which the textiles had previously been exported from Hong Kong under "Special Declaration/ Statement" as stated in declaration I02 which the trader needs to make among other declarations. For details of the declarations to be made on electronic textiles notifications, please refer to Appendix II to Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 12/2003 of 12 May 2003.

2. Full Description of Goods

Registered textiles traders must give full description of the textiles in electronic textiles notifications as in the case of paper textiles notifications. (Please refer to Item (k) at Annex 1 to Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 7/98 of 21 August 1998.) Traders may wish to note the following in particular :

• In the case of Transhipment Notification delivered via the electronic service, since it is no longer necessary for the carriers to deliver a hardcopy of the through bill of lading or through air waybill, the registered textiles trader is required to provide full description of the textiles in the notification.
  
  

• In the case of Export Notification I to cover exports of textiles to the following 14 markets, namely, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey, the actual weight of the textiles concerned in kilogram (kg) must also be provided under "Full Description of Goods". (For details of the arrangement on paper textiles notifications, please refer to Annex 5 (pdf format) to Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 7/98 of 21 August 1998 and Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 1/2003 of 6 February 2003.)

3. Transitional Arrangement for Transhipment Notifications

During the transitional period before full migration to the electronic service for the submission of textiles notifications, registered textiles traders may submit Transhipment Notification (In-bound) in either paper or electronic form. In case it is submitted in electronic form, the corresponding Transhipment Notification (Out-bound) may be submitted either in electronic form or in paper form. However, in case it is submitted in paper form, the corresponding Transhipment Notification (Out-bound) must be submitted in paper form. In case a Transhipment Notification (In-bound) is submitted in electronic form but the corresponding Transhipment Notification (Out-bound) is submitted in paper form, the registered textiles trader of the out-bound cargo is required to give the reference number of the Transhipment Notification (In-bound) submitted via electronic service by making the following declaration under the "Full Description of Goods" column of the Transhipment Notification (Out-bound) to be submitted in paper for cross-referencing :

"The cargo was imported under Transhipment Notification (Textiles) (In-bound) of reference number _______________________. "

4. Particulars of Registered Textiles Traders

In lodging textiles notifications, the company particulars of the registered textiles trader (including its name, address, business registration number, Textiles Trader Registration number, telephone number and fax number, etc) are to be filled in the notification. Traders are reminded that the particulars must tally with those registered and maintained under the TTRS by the Central Registration Office (CRO) of the Trade and Industry Department (the Department).

A branch which has been authorized by its main business to make use of the TTRS exemption granted to the main business (that is, to use the same Textiles Trader Registration number of the main business) in lodging textiles notifications, must fill in the particulars of the branch (instead of the main business) according to those registered and maintained under the TTRS by the CRO of the Department in making its textiles notification lodgment.

Traders may wish to visit the Department's web-site at http://www.tid.gov.hk and make use of the e-Service to see its latest registration particulars.

5. Number and Type of Packages

The number and types of packages must be stated for each line item under the respective fields in a textiles notification. In the case of consolidated packages or a single package contains multiple items, traders should state clearly "Part of (number) carton(s) [or other type of package, where appropriate]" under "Full Description of Goods".

6. Number and Measure of Units

In the paper scenario, traders may fill in the number of dozens followed by the remaining number of pieces when the quantity concerned does not form a full dozen. In an electronic lodgment, traders will need to use the unit of measure in dozen or dozen pairs. The following correlation table as used for other electronic services, such as for Restrained Textiles Export Licence and Production Notification, should be used to describe the exact quantity :

4. The Department takes a serious view on textiles traders breaching any of the conditions of exemption under the TTRS or committing an offence under the Import and Export Ordinance, Cap 60 (the Ordinance). A registered textiles trader who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the conditions of exemption commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years. Textiles notifications which are not completed in accordance with the specifications made by the Director are considered invalid and cannot be used to cover imports, exports and transhipments of textiles. Importing or exporting textile products under an invalid textiles notification constitutes an offence under the Ordinance of importing or exporting textiles not under and in accordance with a licence and the trader concerned is liable on conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years. A registered textiles trader who furnishes false information in a notification commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years. Where the notification is delivered via the electronic service, a registered textiles trader who fails to deliver the notification information or reference number to the carrier commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 (HK$5,000 at present). A carrier who releases possession of textiles imported or who exports the textiles before he has received a textiles notification or licence commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 1 year. A carrier who fails to deliver a copy or extract of manifest to the Director of the textiles in accordance with the specified requirements and within the required timeframe commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 (HK$5,000 at present).
   
   

5. Furthermore, the Director may take administrative actions against a registered textiles trader independent and irrespective of any prosecution action which may be instituted against him. Such administrative actions may involve but shall not necessarily be confined to the revocation and suspension of any exemption and/or registration granted without refund of the registration fee, and the refusal to renew any exemption and/or registration granted.