84 -
The target processing time for textiles export licences is two clear working days. The Department managed to achieve this target last year. As for enquiries, most are answered instantly by the relevant desk officers.
Other more significant kinds of licences processed by the Department are concerned with textiles imports, various non-textiles imports and exports, as well as certificates of origin. In 1994, Trade Department received about 1,480 such applications per working day. The Department was able to deal with them in accordance with its performance pledge which ranged from 24 hours to 14 days, depending on the kind of licence involved. In general, there is no peak or low season in the year for these kinds of applications.
Trade Department does not have any plan to operate its licensing service regularly during lunch time. To keep the service counters open during lunch time, additional staff will have to be deployed. This would push up operating costs, hence licence fees. This will not be welcomed by clients. Alternatively, the existing staff resources may be re-deployed to cover the lunch hour. This would affect service to clients during the normal office hours. Given the cost consideration and the fact that licence application is part of the normal business activities of exporters, it is not unreasonable to expect them to handle their applications during the normal office hours.
End/Thursday, November 2, 1995
Liaison Office between Government and Preparatory Committee
The following is a question by the Hon Allen Lee and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, Mr Stephen Lam, in the Legislative Council today (Thursday):
Question:
In regard to the Government's proposal to set up a Liaison Office to co-ordinate liaison matters between the Government and the Preparatory Committee, will the Government inform this Council of: