Rough Diamond Trader Registration Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

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

Ref : GL 250

6 February 2004

Dear Sirs,

Rough Diamond Trader Registration Circular No. 3/2004

Customs and Excise Department's New Sealing Arrangement

for Rough Diamond Exports Requiring Inspection

INTRODUCTION

This circular informs the trade of the Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (C&ED)'s new sealing arrangement for rough diamond exports requiring inspection. The new sealing arrangement is tentatively scheduled for implementation in March 2004 and the date of implementation will be announced vide another circular nearer the time.

DETAILS

Existing Arrangement

2. At present, rough diamonds covered by Kimberley Process (KP) Certificates (Import) and KP Certificates (Export) are selected for consignment checks conducted by authorized officers of the C&ED. For export consignments requiring inspection, C&ED will endorse and validate on the duplicate (exporter's copy) and triplicate (carrier's copy) of the KP Certificate (Export) after inspection while the exporter shall seal the container in the presence of C&ED officers before export.

New Arrangement

3. Under the new sealing arrangement which is tentatively scheduled for implementation in March 2004, C&ED officer will, after inspection of the export consignment, endorse on the original (accompanying the rough diamonds), duplicate (exporter's copy) and triplicate (carrier's copy) of the KP Certificate (Export) quoting the "seal number" of the tamper-proof container provided by C&ED. The consignment together with the endorsed original KP Certificate (Export) will then be put into the tamper-proof container and sealed by the C&ED officer before export. Apart from this new sealing arrangement, the existing export process will remain unchanged. We shall inform the trade of the implementation date of the new sealing arrangement nearer the time.

IMPORTANT NOTE AND WARNING

4. While C&ED's new sealing arrangement is to be introduced only for the rough diamond exports requiring inspection, all exporters shall, in accordance with the condition of issue of the KP Certificate (Export), ensure that the rough diamonds to be exported under KP Certificates (Export), whether or not they are selected for consignment checks, are sealed in tamper-resistant containers and that the shipments of rough diamonds are covered by the original of the relevant KP Certificates (Export) issued by the Director-General of Trade and Industry (DGTI).
    

5. Traders are further reminded that the Trade and Industry Department works closely with the C&ED to enforce the implementation of the KP Certification Scheme for rough diamonds in Hong Kong. Legal and/or administrative actions will be taken against any traders concerned in the event that any conditions of issue/certification conditions or certification requirements are not fulfilled. In this regard, a person who imports/exports rough diamonds not in accordance with any of the conditions for the issue of the Certificate/ any other certification conditions imposed by DGTI will be liable on conviction to a fine of HK$500,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.

ENQUIRIES

6. If you have any enquiry on the content of this circular, please contact the C&ED at telephone number 2231 4184 or 2231 4198.

Yours faithfully,

(Miss Susanna Suen)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry

Distribution

Registered Rough Diamond Traders in Hong Kong
Diamond Federation of Hong Kong, China Ltd
Hong Kong Jewellers' & Goldsmiths' Association Ltd
Hong Kong Jewellery & Jade Manufacturers Association
Hong Kong Jewelry Manufacturers' Association
Consulates and Consulates-General in Hong Kong
Trade Commissions and Chambers of Commerce
Trade and Industrial Associations
Carrier Liaison Group
Shipping Companies, Airlines, Other Carriers and Freight Forwarders
    Registered under the Transhipment Cargo Exemption Scheme