Textiles Trader Registration Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref. : TID CL 4-60/1
                                                                                                                    2 June 2008

Dear Sirs,

Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/2008

Phasing out of Textiles Notification Forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553

Introduction

Textiles notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 are used for shipments only by those registered textiles traders who are not yet under the new Textiles Trader Registration Scheme (TTRS) fee structure introduced on 25 June 2007. Records show that this group of textiles traders should complete the renewal of their annual registration under the new fee structure by end June 2008. Since textiles traders registered under the new fee structure should be using new textiles notification forms for lodging textiles notifications (see details in paragraph 3 below), the Department considers it timely and appropriate to make an announcement about the phasing out of notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553.

2. The purpose of this circular is to announce that no registered textiles trader shall lodge textiles notifications under TTRS with textiles notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 after 23 June 2008 (Monday). 

Details

3. A new TTRS fee structure was introduced on 25 June 2007 under which a fee of HK$3.8 is payable for each textiles notification lodged in paper form, on top of the existing form charge of HK$0.5 for each paper notification form. As stipulated in paragraph 17 of Textiles Trader Registration (TTR) Circular No. 4/2007 entitled "Textiles Trader Registration Scheme: New Fee Structure" of 16 May 2007, textiles traders who register or renew their registration under the new fee structure should start using new notification forms TID 550, TID 551, TID 552 and TID 553 upon the commencement of their registration. This circular can be downloaded from TID's web portal at http://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/tradecircular/ttrc/2007/ttrc042007.html. 
   
   
4. For existing registered traders who will move to the new fee structure only at the next renewal of their annual registration, they are allowed to use notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 during "the interim period". According to records, all existing registered traders should complete the renewal of their annual registration under the new fee structure within June 2008 and their registration should take effect on or before 24 June 2008 at the latest. No textiles trader shall therefore be using notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553 for shipments after 23 June 2008. Shipments using these notification forms will be considered as invalid. In conjunction with this cut-off date for the use of the forms, the Department has decided to withdraw the forms from sale starting from 20 June 2008. 
   

Reminder

5. The Department has informed each registered trader who will soon be moving to the new fee structure upon renewal of their annual registration by letter to remind them, amongst others, to properly manage further purchases of notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553. No refund will be provided for unused forms.
   
   
6. By copy of this circular, carriers and freight forwarders are reminded that they should take note of the above schedule for phasing out notification forms TRA 550, TRA 551, TRA 552 and TRA 553. They are advised not to accept textiles notifications made with improper forms.
   

Warning

7. Textiles traders registered under TTRS are reminded that the Director-General of Trade and Industry (DGTI) takes a serious view on any improper use of textiles notification forms. Any improper use of textiles notification forms 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. The DGTI may take legal and/or administrative actions against the textiles traders concerned. 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

8. 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