INDUSTRY AND TRADE
DOCUMENTATION OF EXPORTS
33
Import and export licensing formalities are kept to a minimum consistent with Hong Kong's international obligations. The most complex formalities are those resulting from Hong Kong's obliga- tions to restrain certain exports of textile products. Towards the end of the year, regulations were enacted under which textiles of all fibres destined for all countries are subjected to export licensing.
With Hong Kong's economic dependence upon the export of manufactured goods, most of them made from imported materials, and the concurrent existence of a substantial re-export trade, the operation of an origin certification system satisfactory to overseas customs authorities is vitally important. The Commerce and In- dustry Department issues certificates of origin and accepts the responsibility for safeguarding the integrity of the entire Hong Kong certification system. To this end, close liaison is maintained with overseas authorities and with the authorised non-government certificate issuing bodies, i.e. the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries and the Chinese Manufacturers' Association. The value of domestic exports covered by certificates of Hong Kong origin issued by the five organisations during the year was $8,260 million. Of this, $4,132 million represented the value of exports supported by departmental certificates of origin.
Britain and a number of other Commonwealth countries grant preferential rates of duty to Hong Kong products. In order to support claims to preference, the department issues Commonwealth preference certificates against legal undertakings given by manu- facturers to use only Commonwealth raw materials or detailed cost statements prepared by accountants authorised for the purpose. The value of goods exported under these certificates during the year was $1,646.7 million.
For many years the United States of America required imports of certain Chinese-type goods from Hong Kong to be covered by comprehensive certificates of origin which certified that the goods were not only manufactured in Hong Kong, but also that the raw materials which went into the making of such items had originated from countries other than China, North Korea or North Vietnam. The requirement was dropped following a revision of trade policy announced by the United States on June 10, 1971. Up to the time when comprehensive certificates of origin were no longer required, goods which had been exported in 1971 under the system were valued at $736 million.