XN000022-1977-11-19 — Page 5

-

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1977

4

TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT

MOVING TO OCEAN CENTRE

*****

THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT BEGINS A PHASED MOVE TO NEW OFFICES ON SEVERAL FLOORS OF THE OCEAN CENTRE IN KOWLOON STARTING THIS WEEKEND.

THE MAIN PUBLIC OFFICES INCLUDING THE TRADE CONTROLS DIVISION, TRADE LICENSING BRANCH AND ACCOUNTS WILL MOVE TO THE OCEAN CENTRE DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND. THESE OFF ICES WILL CLOSE FOR BUSINESS AT NOON ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, AND REOPEN ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, WHEN THE MOVE WILL BE COMPLETE.

THE TRADE INVESTIGATION BRANCH OFFICE IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL ALSO MOVE TO THE OCEAN CENTRE AND REOPEN ON NOVEMBER 28.

THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS WILL, HOWEVER, REMAIN AT 2, RUMSEY STREET ON THE CENTRAL DISTRICT WATERFRONT AND WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S MOVE.

THE DEPARTMENT'S OLD PREMISES AT 46, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC ON THE ISLAND AS SUB-OFF ICES WHICH WILL OPEN FROM NOVEMBER 28.

THESE SERVICES WILL INCLUDE: COLLECTION COUNTERS FOR IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS AND SALE OF TIC FORMS RECEIPT AND ISSUE COUNTERS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, COMMONWEALTH PREFERENCE AND GENERALISED PREFERENCE CERTIFICATES- IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENCES AND TEXTILE EXPORT LICENCES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE MOVE WAS LONG OVERDUE. +WE HAVE FROM 5,000 TO 6,000 CUSTOMERS A DAY COLLECTING OR APPLYING FOR VARIOUS CERTIFICATES, LICENCES, DECLARATIONS, FORMS AND SO ON. THIS OLD BUILDING JUST CANNOT COPE WITH THESE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE.+

IN THE OCEAN CENTRE THERE WILL BE MODERN COUNTERS AND RECEPTION DESKS. OFFICES ON THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS ARE CONNECTED BY ESCALATORS WHILE HIGH-SPEED LIFTS SERVE THE HIGHER FLOORS.

BESIDES THE OFFICES ON THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS, THE DEPARTMENT WILL OCCUPY THE ENTIRE 14TH AND 15TH FLOORS. THESE WILL PROVIDE, IN CONTRAST TO ITS PRESENT ACCOMMODATION, PREMISES SUITED TO ONE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S MAJOR DEPARTMENTS WHICH, BESIDES THE THOUSANDS OF DAILY CUSTOMERS, ALSO RECEIVES MANY EMINENT VISITORS FROM ABROAD. THESE INCLUDE POLITICIANS, WOULD-BE INVESTORS, BUSINESSMEN AND NEGOTIATING TEAMS.

15

J