24-hour hotline : 23 922 922
e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk
Ref. : RC 352
29 October 2021
Dear Sirs,
Rice Control Circular No. 1/2021
Introduction of E-submission Service :
Applications for Import/Export Licence for Rice and
Registration as a Stockholder of Rice
Introduction
We are delighted to announce that with immediate effect, traders can submit applications for (a) import/export licence for rice and (b) registration as a stockholder of rice electronically via the website of the Trade and Industry Department (TID).
Details
2.As governed by the law, applications for import/export licence for rice and registration as a stockholder of rice had to be made in writing to the Director-General of Trade and Industry. Upon completion of the necessary legislative amendments and with the Electronic Transactions (Exclusion) (Amendment) Order 2021 coming into operation on 29 October 2021, the electronic records and electronic/digital signatures used in electronic transactions of the two aforementioned applications can have the same legal status as their paper-based counterparts. Against this background and to provide greater facilitation to the trade, TID launches e-submission service for these two applications today. Details of the e-submission service are set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 below.
3.To enjoy the convenience of the e-submission, traders need to subscribe a digital certificate issued by a Certification Authority which is recognised by the Government. The relevant digital certificate must be applied for authentication and digital signing for the e-application forms submitted to TID. For details, please refer to Annex (pdf format).
4.Notwithstanding the introduction of the above e-submission service, traders can still choose to lodge those applications in paper form at TID in person as at present.
E-submission of Applications
(A) Application for Import/Export Licence for Rice
5.For electronic submission of an application for Import Licence Form 3 (TRA 187)/Export Licence Form 6 (TRA 394), a trader can download the e-application form from TID's e-Form Submission Service <https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/form/publicform/nontextiles/form_nontextiles.html> and submit the duly completed e-application form as well as the required supporting documents (if any) via the same service platform. Once the application is submitted successfully, an email notification with a reference number will be sent to the trader to acknowledge receipt of the application. The import/export licence will normally be ready for collection at our Department after one clear working day following lodgement. Traders are advised to mark down the reference number for collection of licence.
(B) Application for Registration as a Stockholder of Rice
6.For electronic submission of an application for registration as a stockholder of rice (TID 143), a trader can download the e-application form from TID's e-Form Submission Service <https://www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/form/publicform/nontextiles/form_nontextiles.html> and submit the duly completed e-application form as well as the required supporting documents via the same service platform. Once the application is submitted successfully, an email notification with a reference number will be sent to the trader to acknowledge receipt of the application. Under normal circumstances, the Department will inform the traders of the results of their applications within 14 days by mail following the receipt of the duly completed applications with all the required supporting documents.
7.If an application is approved, the trader will be assigned a user account and an initial password for downloading the "Certificate of Registration as a Stockholder of Rice" and the confirmation letter for the undertaking import quantity of rice for each import period through the Rice E-services <https://www.tid.gov.hk/portal/english/rice.html>.
Benefits of the E-submission Service
8.With the introduction of the above e-submission service, traders can lodge applications for import/export licence for rice and registration as a stockholder of rice round-the-clock. They can also save one trip to TID for lodging the applications. By using the e-submission service, traders will no longer need to purchase the Import Licence Form 3 (TRA 187)/Export Licence Form 6 (TRA 394) from TID as they will only be applicable to those traders submitting applications in paper form. Hence, traders are cordially invited to experience the convenience brought about by the e-submission service.
Enquiries
9.If you have any enquiry on the content of this circular, please contact the Rice Control Unit at 2398 5570.
Yours faithfully,
(Ms Tiffany YONG)
for Director-General of Trade and Industry