XN000022-1980-07-30 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 198

THE WHITE PAPER ITSELF WOULD NOT BE DEBATED IN THE UK PARLIAMENT A BILL WOULD BE INTRODUCED DURING THE NEXT PARLIAMENTARY SESSION.

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THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PUBLICATION OF THIS WHITE PAPER GIVES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FURTHER COMMENTS. SUBMISSIONS MADE IN WRITING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, 141 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.

INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR TEXTILES IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM

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THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE INTER IM ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE TEXTILES IMPORT LICENSING SYSTEM ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 1).

+THE INTER IM ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO ASSIST IMPORTERS IN COMPLYING WITH THE NEW LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE DEPARTMENT APPRECIATES THAT CERTAIN INFORMATION, SUCH AS SHIPPING MARKS AND NUMBERS OF PACKAGES AND CARTONS, MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF SUBMISSION OF LICENCE APPLICATIONS.

+WHERE SUCH DIFFICULTIES ARE ENCOUNTERED BY IMPORTERS, THE DEPARTMENT WILL NOT DELAY THE ISSUE OF LICENCES, PROVIDED THAT THE ESSENTIAL DATA IS CLEARLY STATED, INCLUDING THE DESCRIPTION OF GOODS, THE QUANTITY INVOLVED, THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE IMPORTER AND THE EXPORTING COUNTRY.

+RELEVANT INFORMATION NOT GIVEN WHEN APPLYING FOR A LICENCE MUST, HOWEVER, BE SUBSEQUENTLY SUPPLIED TO THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

A TOLERANCE MARGIN OF 10 PER CENT BETWEEN THE QUANTITY DECLARED ON IMPORT LICENCES AND THE QUANTITY ACTUALLY IMPORTED WILL BE ACCEPTABLE, PROVIDED THAT THE DIFFERENCE IN QUANTITY IS SUBSEQUENTLY NOTIFIED TO THE DEPARTMENT.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, WHERE THE DISCREPANCY IS WITHIN THE 10 PER CENT MARGIN, THE AMENDMENT OF IMPORT LICENCES CAN BE EFFECTED AFTER THE APPLICANT HAS TAKEN DELIVERY OF THE CONSIGNMENTS, HE EXPLAINED.

THE DEPARTMENT IS PREPARED TO ENTERTAIN REQUESTS FOR EXTENDING THE VALIDITY PERIOD OF IMPORT LICENCES WHEN REASONABLE GROUNDS CAN BE GIVEN.

APPLICATIONS WHICH HAVE TO BE PROCESSED AND ISSUED URGENTLY, SUCH AS SMALL CONSIGNMENTS WHICH ARRIVE IN HONG KONG WITHOUT ADVANCE NOTICE, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE INSTANT SERVICE+ COUNTER OF THE IMPORT LICENSING SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT (15TH FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE, 5 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON) WHERE THEIR APPLICATIONS WILL BE DEALT WITH ON THE SPOT.

+THE DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW THESE INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS IN THREE MONTHS, TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY NEED TO BE IMPROVED OR MODIFIED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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