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

Ref: TID CL 10-3/2 (C)

23 October 2014

Dear Sirs,

Notice to Exporters :

Series 1 (USA) No. 7/2014

Series 2 (EU) No. 7/2014

Series 3 (Countries other than USA & EU) No. 7/2014

Certificate of Origin Circular No. 9/2014

Import Licensing (Textiles) Circular No. 5/2014

Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 7/2014

Relaxation of the Hong Kong Textiles Control Arrangements

Introduction

Further to Textiles Trader Registration Circulars No. 3/2014 dated 13 June 2014 and No. 4/2014, No. 5/2014 dated 30 September 2014, this circular informs traders that liberalization of Hong Kong textiles control arrangements will commence on 21 November 2014.

Details

2.The Import and Export (General) Regulations (Amendment of Schedules) Order 2014 and Import and Export (Fees) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulation 2014 giving effect to the liberalization will come into effect on 21 November 2014. Accordingly, the licensing and notification requirements for all textiles imports and exports and the Production Notification requirement for all cut-and-sewn garments manufactured in Hong Kong will cease from 21 November 2014.

3.Traders are advised to refer to the Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 4/2014 dated 30 September 2014 for details of the transitional arrangements of liberalization. In particular, the cut-off dates for various textiles related services are summarized below: -

4.The Department will continue to provide TTRS registration service for textiles traders wishing to join the Scheme voluntarily. The validity period of all existing TTRS registrations will not be affected by the liberalization. Traders who are/ are not holding TTRS registrations are welcome and encouraged to register/ keep their TTRS registrations in case Hong Kong might need to reinstate textiles control should circumstances require some time in the future. The annual registration fee for TTRS will be adjusted to HK$61 for registrations with validity period commencing on or after 21 November 2014. For details of the post-liberalization registration arrangements under TTRS, please refer to the Textiles Trader Registration Circular No. 5/2014 issued by the Department on 30 September 2014.

Important Notices

5.The prevailing textiles control arrangements on textiles imports and exports remain in force until liberalization takes effect on 21 November 2014. Traders are advised to take note of the above liberalization of textiles control in planning for their application or renewal of registration under TTRS. Alternatively, traders may apply for consignment-specific textiles licences to cover their textiles shipments as necessary before liberalization if they do not hold a registration under TTRS or upon expiry of their TTRS registrations. In this connection, please note that any request for a full or partial refund of TTRS annual registration fee paid for whatever reason will not be accepted. Moreover, in view that all textiles licence/ notification forms will no longer be in use after liberalization, traders are advised to avoid over-stocking unused textiles licence/ notification forms which in any case will not be accepted for refund or exchange.

Warning

6. Notwithstanding the liberalization of textiles control, traders are required under the law to keep relevant books and records for textiles shipments covered by textiles licences/ notifications for a minimum period of two years after the date of shipment and to present them for inspection by officers of the Customs and Excise Department and the Trade and Industry Department if required.

7. Traders who contravene or fail to comply with any of the conditions of issue of licences or conditions of exemption under TTRS prior to liberalization commit an offence and are liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for 2 years. The Director-General of Trade and Industry may also take administrative actions (e.g. revocation and suspension of any exemption and/or TTRS registration granted, refusal to renew any exemption and/or registration, etc.) against the traders concerned, independent and irrespective of any prosecution actions.

Enquiries

8. For enquiries on this circular, please contact the following units of the Department:

9. For enquiries on the electronic services of textiles notifications and PN, please contact Tradelink Electronic Commerce Ltd’s hotline at 2917 8888.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Kathy CHAN)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry

^1. Validated PNs are not required to support applications for Certificate of Hong Kong Origin (CHKO) involving cut-and-sewn garments for export to the USA (including fresh applications and re-submission of deferred applications) lodged as from 11:00 p.m. on 20 November 2014. But amendment requests for CHKOs issued prior to liberalization are still required to be supported by the original validated PNs as appropriate.