WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993
"THE TRADERS WILL ACHIEVE GREAT SAVINGS NOT ONLY IN TIME BUT ALSO IN COSTS BECAUSE ALL THEY HAVE TO PAY IS THE ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE OF $2,000 AND TO BUY NOTIFICATION FORMS WHICH COST NO MORE THAN $2 PER SET, NO MORE PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR EACH LICENCE APPLICATION, MR HO SAID.
MR HO BELIEVED THE GAIN IN EFFICIENCY WOULD ULTIMATELY HELP TO ENHANCE THE COMPETITIVE EDGE OF THE LOCAL TEXTILE AND CLOTHING TRADE VIS-A-VIS THE COMPETITORS.
IT
FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, ONCE THE TTRS WAS IMPLEMENTED, WOULD DEPLOY RESOURCES CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN LICENSING ACTIVITIES TO MORE STRATEGIC TASKS TO STEP UP CHECKS AND CONTROLS.
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WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR CONTROL SYSTEM WITH NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. THE NEW SYSTEM WILL ALLOW USERS, INCLUDING THOSE AT THE BORDER CHECKPOINTS, TO HAVE ON-LINE AND REAL TIME ACCESS TO THE CENTRAL DATABASE.
"ALSO BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM ARE A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM AND AN EXECUTIVE INFORMATION SYSTEM, WHICH TOGETHER WILL ASSIST IN THE SURVEILLANCE OF ANY MALPRACTICE, HE SAID.
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MR HO CAUTIONED THAT IF ANY TRADER WAS FOUND TO HAVE COMMITTED ANY MALPRACTICE, LEGAL AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS WOULD BR TAKEN AGAINST HIM.
"THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR AN OFFENCE IS A FINE OF $500,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
"FURTHERMORE, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT HESITATE TO USE ITS POWERS PROVIDED UNDER THE LAW FOR SANCTIONING OFFENDERS F INCLUDING THE POWER TO SUSPEND AND REVOKE THE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SCHEME," HE SAID.
THE TTRS COVERS ALL TEXTILES IMPORTS, ALL TEXTILES RE-EXPORTS AND DOMESTIC TEXTILES EXPORTS TO NON-RESTRAINED MARKETS. IT WILL BEGIN OPERATION ON JULY 1, 1993 AND APPLICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION HAS STARTED SINCE MAY 1, 1993.
THE TTRS IS NOT EXISTING LICENSING SYSTEM.
COMPULSORY, BUT RATHER SUPPLEMENTS THE
"A TRADER CAN CHOONK TO CONTINUE TO TAKK OUT RELEVANT TEXTILRA LICENCES TO COVER HIS TEXTILES CONN IGNMENTS, AS AT PRESENT.
OF
"NEVERTHELESS, THE CURRENT SO-CALLED INSTANTANEOUS LICENSING SERVICE PROVIDED FOR THESE TEXTILES LICENCES WILL BE TERMINATED AS AUGUST 1, 1993.
"FROM THEN ON, LICENCES FOR CONSIGNMENTS WHICH MAY FALL UNDER THE SCOPE OF TTRS WILL BE ISSUED TWO CLEAR WORKING DAYS AFTER THE APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED, MR HO SAID.
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