XN000022-1981-02-12 — Page 5

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981

ORIGIN CERTIFICATION

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NEW ARRANGEMENTS

THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT NEW OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ORIGIN CERTIFICATION AND ORIGIN LABELLING PURPOSES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON FEBRUARY 23, 1981.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE TWO ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THIS SCHEME. ARRANGEMENT (A) IS TO FACILITATE THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF HONG KONG ORIGIN FOR PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE HAD MINOR PROCESSING OUTSIDE HONG KONG, BUT ON WHICH THE MA IN OR ORIGIN-CONFERRING PROCESS HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MANUFACTURERS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN.

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ARRANGEMENT (B) IS TO FACILITATE THE RE-IMPORTATION OF GOODS WHICH HAVE HAD MINOR PROCESSING OUT OF HONG KONG AND ARE RE-IMPORTED WITH LABELS INDICATING HONG KONG ORIGIN. THIS IS AN OPTIONAL SCHEME FOR MANUFACTURERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANY LOCAL COMPANY. AT PRESENT, SUCH GOODS WOULD BE LIABLE TO DETENTION ON IMPORTATION BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR INVESTIGATION OF A POSSIBLE TRADE DESCRIPTION OFFENCE.

THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL COMMENCE ON FEBRUARY 23, 1981. HOWEVER, THOSE CONCERNED MAY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT APPLY TO REGISTER THEIR GOODS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES WITH THE OUTWARD PROCESSING SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON FIRST FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.

DETAILS OF THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN CIRCULAR NO. 2/81 DATED FEBRUARY 12, 1981. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE RECEPTIONIST COUNTER OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, GROUND FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE.

AIRPORT TEST WITH 190 000 TRAVELLERS

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CROWD CONTROL AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS PUT TO THE TEST DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD WHEN MORE THAN 190 000 PEOPLE MOVED THROUGH ITS DEPARTURE AND ENTRY GATES.

AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) DESCRIBED THE OPERATION AS BEING +SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT+.

HE ATTRIBUTED THE SUCCESS TO THE CO-OPERATION OF TRAVELLERS BY CHECKING-IN EARLY AND KEEPING FRIENDS DOWN TO A MINIMUM, AND TO THE INTRODUCTION OF TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS IN THE AIRPORT WHICH

INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL CHECK-IN FACILITIES FOR CHINA-BOUND TRAVELLERS.

DURING THE NEW YEAR TRAVELLING PERIOD+ (FEBRUARY 1 TO 9) SOME 120 000 LEFT HONG KONG BY AIR AND 70 000 ARRIVED VIA THE AIRPORT.

THE HOLIDAY RUSH STARTED ON FEBRUARY 3 WHEN 15 000 PEOPLE FLEW OUT WITH ANOTHER 17 000 ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND ABOUT 18 000 ON NEW YEAR'S DAY.

/HEAVY DEMAND