Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Our Ref. : GL 201
Tel. No. : 2398 5766
Fax No. : 2398 3747

16 May 2006

To :All shipping companies, airlines and freight forwarders
 registered under the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme

Dear Sirs,

Implementation of Five-day Week from 1 July 2006

Introduction

In response to the Chief Executive's announcement of the plan to introduce five-day week in the civil service in January 2006, the Department has examined the possibility of pursuing the initiative for the services provided to the trade. After careful consideration, we have decided to implement five-day week with effect from 1 July 2006 and all public counters in the Department will be closed on Saturdays. Nevertheless, the service hours on weekdays will be extended to fully compensate for the service hours currently available on Saturdays. The Department will also ensure that we continue to provide quality services to the pubic and that the impact on the public be reduced to the minimum.

New Service Hours of the Manifest Checking Unit

2.Starting from 1 July 2006, the daily service hours of the Manifest Checking Unit providing the following services will be extended by 45 minutes. The new service hours are as follows :

Performance Pledge

3.Traders are reminded that with effect from 1 July 2006, Saturday will no longer be counted as a working day for the purpose of performance pledge. They are advised to take this into account in making their business plans and to lodge applications to the Department well in advance where possible.

Enquiries

4.If you have any enquiry on the content of this letter, please contact the following :

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Judy TING)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry