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FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 1986
+CIRCULARS GIVING FULL DETAILS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TODAY AND IMPORTERS SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE CONTENTS, + HE SAID.
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IS TO STEP UP ACTION TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIOR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLIED WITH. SPOT CHECKS ON CARGOES, PARTICULARLY CARGOES IMPORTED BY SEA, WILL BE INTENSIFIED AND IMPORTERS AND CARRIERS ARE REMINDED THAT IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY LICENCES CAN BE SEIZED WITH PROSECUTION FOLLOWING.
UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (GENERAL) REGULATIONS, IMPORTS OF TEXTILES MUST BE BROUGHT IN UNDER VALID IMPORT LICENCES ISSUED BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE GOODS. THIS REQUIREMENT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1980 BUT THERE IS A TENDENCY THAT IMPORTERS TAKE OUT IMPORT LICENCES FOR TEXTILES AFTER THE GOODS HAVE ACTUALLY ARRIVED IN HONG KONG.
*THIS PRACTICE MUST STOP, + SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
FROM APRIL 1, THE RULES WILL BE ENFORCED MORE STRICTLY AND THE ISSUE OF LICENCES AFTER THE IMPORT OF GOODS WILL BE MADE ONLY
AND THERE WILL BE NO INSTANT LICENSING IN EXCEPTIONAL CASES.
SERVICE FOR LATE APPLICANTS.
TRANSPORTATION, SHIPPING AND AIRLINE COMPANIES ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT RELEASE ANY TEXTILE GOODS INTO THE TERRITORY WITHOUT THE PRODUCTION OF A VALID TEXTILE IMPORT LICENCE. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PRESENT THE RELEVANT IMPORT LICENCE TO THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE RELEVANT CARGO MANIFEST.
THE LAW PROVIDES HEAVY PENALTIES, UP TO A FINE OF $500 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR, FOR PARTIES WHO FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL APPLY TO COVER THE SHIPMENT OF COMMERCIAL SAMPLES OF NO COMMERCIAL VALUE.
THE SECOND CHANGE RELATING TO IMPORT LICENSING REQUIREMENTS CONCERNS GARMENTS, GARMENT PARTS AND CERTAIN KNITTED FABRICS NOT SHIPPED IN BULK.
FROM APRIL 1, IMPORTERS OF THESE ITEMS WILL HAVE TO DECLARE THE INTENDED USE OF EACH CONSIGNMENT AND TO INDICATE THE WAY IN WHICH IT IS TO BE EITHER USED LOCALLY OR THE COUNTRY TO WHICH IT IS INTENDED TO RE-EXPORT. IN ADDITION IMPORTERS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FULL PARTICULARS OF THE GARMENT PARTS AND KNITTED FABRIC NOT SHIPPED IN BULK.
/THE ADDITIONAL
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