Registration and Certification Publications Appendix One HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM (TIC 185B (REV.)) (I) Completion of application The application form (TIC 185B (Rev.)) contains declarations by both the manufacturer and the exporter as to the accuracy of information given on the application. It must therefore be completed personally by the proprietor or by a partner or principal officer authorised by the company exporting/manufacturing the goods. The application requires, among other things, the following details : (a) Means of transport and route, and final destination The means and route by which the goods are to be transported, the departure date of the vessel and the final destination must be clearly stated and must also tally with the details as stated in Box 3 of the Certificate of Origin Form A. Where container service is utilised in the transportation of goods, the closing date of the container must be stated. Where the final destination is a place other than the port of discharge, this must be stated in the ‘Final Destination if on Carriage' column. (b) Description of goods The description of goods, their marks and numbers, quantity, value and brand names or labels should be clearly stated in the relevant columns of the application form. The description of goods, their quantity and brand names or labels appearing on both the exporter's and manufacturer's declarations must be identical. They must also tally with those stated on the Certificate of Origin Form A. If the goods do not carry any brand names or labels, the word 'Nil' should be inserted in the relevant columns of both declarations. The marks and numbers of goods appearing on both the exporter's declaration and the Certificate of Origin Form A should also be identical. It should also be noted that the quantity of goods and the number of packages must be recorded both in letters and numerals, e.g. 'ONE HUNDRED (100) DOZEN' 'TEN (10) CARTONS' In addition, applicants for Certificates of Origin Form A are required to declare on the application form the 8-digit Harmonised Commodity Description and Coding System (Harmonised System) codes of each of the products covered by the Certificate of Origin Form A. The HS codes should be bracketed and placed beside the description of goods on the 'exporter page' of the application form. The 8-digit HS codes for any particular product can be found in the 'Hong Kong Imports & Exports Classification List (Harmonised System)'. (c) Name of factory, its address and registration number The manufacturer should ensure that the factory's full name and correct address are completed. He should also state the factory's valid Factory Registration Number which is given by the Department when its application for registration for certification purposes is approved. This number is not the Business Registration Number which is given by the Business Registration Office of the Inland Revenue Department. (d) Declaration as to GSP origin criteria Manufacturers are required, for goods which will qualify for preference only if certain requirements are met in the manufacture of such goods, to state that such requirements are met; this statement should be made in paragraph 5 of the manufacturer's declaration, i.e. the reverse page of the application form. Origin criteria, and therefore the declarations, vary from product to product and from one importing country to another. Consequently, manufacturers should consult the Certificate of Origin / Form A Section of the Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch in regard to the correct declaration to be made. A false or incorrect declaration may not only result in the application being refused but also in legal proceedings being taken against the company or the declarant. (e) Materials and parts used in the manufacture of the products All materials and parts used, whether imported or locally made, and their country of origin, should be stated in the manufacturer's declaration. However, for products composed of many component parts, only the major parts are required in the declaration. (f) Work done in Hong Kong Manufacturers should state clearly the manufacturing processes performed in the registered factory premises for the production of the goods at paragraph 3(A) of the manufacturer's declaration. If the whole or part of the work is sub-contracted to other factories or persons, the sub-contracting arrangement procedure in force should be followed. Details of the sub-contracting arrangements are obtainable from the Factory Registration Section, Factory Registration and Origin Certification Branch of the Department (Tel. 2398 5531). The following details should be clearly stated in the relevant paragraphs : Sub-contracting of principal process or entire production The Approval Reference Number for the sub-contracting, the names, the addresses and valid Factory Registration Numbers of all sub-contractors, the processes carried out and the quantity produced by the sub-contractors should be quoted in paragraph 3(B)(i). The sub-contractor is also required to complete the Declaration by Sub-contractor column beside paragraph 3(B)(i). Sub-contracting of subsidiary processes The applicant manufacturer may take one of the following two courses: Either : Insert the Approval Reference Number for the sub-contracting in paragraph 3(B)(ii). Or : Provide full details of each process and each sub-contractor (the name and address) employed in paragraph 3(B)(iii). Sub-contracting to outworkers The processes performed by such outworkers should be stated in paragraph 3(C). (g) Inspection of goods The Customs and Excise Department will generally carry out consignment checks on the goods to be exported to verify the accuracy of the information provided in the declaration. Manufacturers are therefore advised to state clearly in paragraph 7 the place where the goods may be inspected, such as the factory premises, its warehouses, or any other places where the goods are stored before shipment. It should also be noted that goods should be available for inspection for at least two clear working days following the date of submission. (h) Authorised signature and office address The correct office addresses of both the exporter and the manufacturer must be clearly stated. All signatures should be repeated in block letters, and Chinese character signatures should be repeated in English block letters. All signatures should also be stamped with the company's business chop. Furthermore, signatory of the manufacturer should be those registered under the Department's Factory Registration. (II) Amendments to application The Department normally permits amendments to be made to the application form. This can be done by typewriting or handwriting, signed by the signatory of the application or his/her authorised official, and stamped with the company's business chop. The Department, however, reserves the right to require the submission of a fresh application. (III) Insufficient space on the application Where the space provided on the application form is not sufficient to accommodate all the details, (e.g. because the consignment contains too many items), exporters/manufacturers may complete the information on a blank white sheet of paper and affix it to the application form, at the appropriate columns and chopped and signed at the joining line by the signatory of the application or his authorised official.
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Last revision date: 10 June 2008