Textiles Trader Registration Circular

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref. : TID CL 4-60/1

10 October 2008

Dear Sirs,

Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 8/2008

Improper Use of Textiles Notification Forms TRA 550,
TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553

Introduction

The purpose of this circular is to remind all textiles traders registered under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS) that they must not use Textiles Notification Forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 for import or export of textiles as these forms are no longer in use after 23 June 2008. Textiles notifications lodged with these forms will be considered invalid by the Department.

Details

2. It has come to the notice of the Department that some textiles traders are still using notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 for shipment. The Director-General of Trade and Industry (DGTI) takes a serious view on any misuse or improper use of textiles notification forms. Phasing out of Textiles Notification Forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 was announced vide Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/2008 of 2 June 2008 and the circular is downloadable from TID's web portal at http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/ttrc/2008/ttrc052008.html. It is clearly stipulated in the circular that starting from 24 June 2008, all textiles traders registered under the TTRS must use textiles notification forms TID 550, TID 551, TID 552 and TID 553 if they lodge textiles notifications in paper form for import or export of textiles.

3. Textiles notifications lodged by textiles traders registered under the TTRS are subject to verification by the Department. Where it is established that any of the TTRS exemption conditions have not fully been complied with, including the misuse or improper use of textiles notification forms, the DGTI may take legal and/or administrative actions against the textiles traders concerned.

Warning

4. Textiles traders registered under the TTRS are reminded that any misuse or improper use of textiles notification forms for shipment, whether erroneous information are provided on the notifications, will be regarded as import or export of textiles not under and in accordance with a valid licence under the Import and Export Ordinance. In such case, the textiles notification lodged will be considered invalid. In addition to requiring the application by the textiles traders concerned for replacement consignment-specific import or export licences (Form 7 or Form 4) to cover the textiles shipment already imported or exported with the invalid textiles notifications, the DGTI may take legal and/or administrative actions against the textiles traders concerned. In this regard, textiles traders are reminded to refer to the TTR Circular No. 1/2008 entitled "Actions against Malpractices under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS)" issued by the TID on 8 January 2008, which is available at TID's web portal
   (http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/ttrc/2008/ttrc012008.html).

Enquiries

5. For enquiries on this circular, please contact the Customer Service Centre of the Textiles Licensing Branch at 2398 5288.

Yours faithfully,

(CHAN Tze Pang)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry