THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1987
MR LAI SAID THAT IF A MANUFACTURER FALSELY DECLARES THAT LINKING AND LOOPING HAS BEEN DONE IN HONG KONG (WHILE IN FACT IT HAS BEEN OUTSIDE HONG KONG), IT WOULD CONSTITUTE A CRIMINAL OFFENCE UNDER THE RULES FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF HONG KONG ORIGIN.
HE SAID BOTH DEPARTMENTS WERE DETERMINED TO CARRY OUT A FULL INVESTIGATION AND HE URGED THE UNION MEMBERS TO ASSIST THE AUTHORITIES BY SUPPLYING SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON WHERE THEY THOUGHT MALPRACTICES MIGHT BE TAKING PLACE. THIS REQUEST FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION HAD BEEN PASSED ON IN PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH WORKERS IN 1985 AND 1986.
THE CUSTOMS OFFICIALS PRESENT AT THE MEETING REQUESTED THOSE UNION MEMBERS WHO ARE AWARE OF SPECIFIC MALPRACTICE TO COME FORWARD AND GIVE INFORMATION TO ASSIST IN THE IR INVESTIGATION.
MR LAI STRESSED THAT BOTH DEPARTMENTS HAVE ALWAYS TAKEN VERY STRINGENT ACTION TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE TEXTILES CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING SYSTEM.
COMMENTING FURTHER ON HONG KONG'S EFFORTS TO CONTROL MALPRACTICES, MR LAI ADDED THAT IN 1986, A TOTAL OF 655 COMPANIES WERE SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED BY THE CUSTOMS FOR ALL TYPES OF OFFENCES AGAINST HONG KONG'S TEXTILES CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING SYSTEM RESULTING IN FINES OF $11 659 686. THIS COMPARES WITH 490 PROSECUTIONS IN 1985 AND FINES OF $6 384 100.
THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $500 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR UP TO TWO YEARS FOR SUCH OFFENCE.
+BOTH DEPARTMENTS TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE TEXTILES CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING SYSTEM AND WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN, + MR LAI SAID.
IN ADDITION TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ALSO IMPOSES ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS AGAINST OFFENDING COMPANIES.
IN 1986, FOR INSTANCE, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TOOK ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION IN 472 INSTANCES AGAINST TEXTILES CERTIFICATION AND LICENSING MALPRACTICE. SUCH ACTIONS INCLUDED PERMANENT SURRENDER OF QUOTAS, INVALIDATING THE EXPORT LICENCE CONCERNED, NULLIFICATION OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUTURE QUOTA ALLOCATION, DEBARMENT FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE FREE QUOTA ALLOCATION SCHEME AND DENIAL OF LICENSING FACILITIES.
1
18