New electronic submission service for textiles trader
Thursday, September 2, 1999

With a view to facilitating trade and promoting the use of electronic commerce, the Trade Department announced today (Thursday) the full production launch of electronic data interchange (EDI) service for Production Notification (PN) with effect from September 20 (Monday).

All registered manufacturers producing cut and sewn garments destined for restrained markets are required to notify the Trade Department regarding the production details of each consignment by submitting a PN within three working days before they start the key assembly process in Hong Kong.

"By submitting PN through EDI, traders can save time and costs as they are no longer required to lodge the submission in person. The whole process will become paperless. Submission of applications by the traders and issue of PN approval by the Trade Department can all be done electronically," said Assistant Director-General of Trade, Miss Eliza Lee.

"In addition, processing time for PN will be shortened from two to one-and-a-half clear working days," she added.

She pointed out that for those non-EDI users, they could continue submitting their PN applications in paper form to the Trade Department.

"However, traders are urged to make early use of EDI service as full migration to EDI service for PN may take place towards early 2000. By then, non-EDI users have to patronize service centres operated by Tradelink to convert their paper PN applications into electronic submissions."

Meanwhile, the Trade Department also announced changes of certification fee. With effect from September 20, Certificate of Origin (CO) users would enjoy a 30% fee reduction from $159 to $110, while at the same time a fee of $49 would be imposed for all PN applications either in paper or through EDI.

"For those textiles traders who need to apply for both PN and CO, the combined fee of both documents, i.e. $110 plus $49, would be no higher than the present CO fee of $159. For traders applying for a CO, they will enjoy a reduction in fee," Miss Lee added.

PN is the second statutory document processed by Trade Department to be provided with EDI service following the successful full migration of EDI service for Restrained Textiles Export Licence (RTEL) on January 1, 1999. The next EDI service aimed to be launched in late 1999 will be CO.