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US invited to observe HK's textiles export control systems
The Customs and Excise Department is inviting US Customs officers to visit Hong Kong to observe its textiles export control systems.
The invitation, made in response to the additional import measures imposed with effect from June 17 on 10 categories of Hong Kong apparel products, is part of the territory's continuing effort to persuade the US Customs that these extra measures are unnecessary.
"The visit programme will last for 30 days, starting from September 2. Eight US Customs officers will observe the operation of our various textiles export control systems, including our new Production Notification System (PNS), in respect of the 10 categories in question," a government spokesman said today (Thursday).
"These US Customs officers will join four teams of Hong Kong Customs officers and visit factories which have submitted production notifications (PNs) and which have agreed to such joint visits."
The joint teams will also visit factories which have consignments in the 10 categories that are currently in transit or awaiting clearance at US ports, or have entered US after the additional import measures came into effect. Again, the visits will be subject to the factories' consent.
"In the invitation, we told the US side that we hope that after having observed our systems at work under the programme, the US Customs will share our view that Hong Kong has an effective and vigorous system against illegal textiles transhipment, and that the additional import measures imposed on our 10 categories are unnecessary and should be terminated," the spokesman said.
"We hope that the visit programme will prove a constructive way of getting round the two sides' difference over the matter of joint verification. If not, we will consider other options, including referring the matter to the World Trade Organisation (WTO)."
The spokesman explained that the joint teams would only visit factories with the factories' consent, and would not undertake any enforcement activities. Any enforcement activities, including the examination of factory books and records, would be conducted by Hong Kong Customs officers on their own, and separately from the joint visits.