XN000022-1982-07-08 — Page 8

THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1982

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REVISION OF FEES UNDER IMPORT AND EXPORT

(FEES) REGULATIONS, IMPORT AND EXPORT

ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 60)

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FOR CE TAIN SERVICES OPERATED BY GOVERNMENT UNDER THE TEXTILES EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE CERTIFICATION SYSTEM WILL BE REVISED UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (FEES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY) A SPOKESMAN FOR TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THE REVISION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID WITH EFFECT FROM AUGUST 1, THE APPLICATION FEE FOR A TEXTILE EXPORT LICENCE SUBJECT TO QUOTA RESTRAINT WILL BE INCREASED FROM $15 TO $30. THE COST OF A NON-QUOTA TEXTILE LICENCE WILL BE REDUCED FROM $15 TO $10.

A FEE OF $30 WILL BE PAYABLE FOR EACH APPLICATION FOR +SWING+ OF QUOTAS (1.E. THE SURRENDER OF QUOTAS IN ONE CATEGORY IN RETURN FOR THE RIGHT TO EXPORT AN EQUIVALENT QUANTITY IN ANOTHER CATEGORY), AND TRANSFER OF QUOTAS FROM ONE COMPANY TO ANOTHER. A FEE OF $100 WILL ALSO BE PAYABLE ON APPLICATION FOR FREE QUOTA EXPORT AUTHORISATIONS.

FROM NOVEMBER 1, A NEW ANNUAL FEE WILL BE CHARGED FOR THE REGISTRATION OF QUOTA HOLDERS AND COMPANIES PARTICIPATING IN QUOTA TRANSFER OR FREE QUOTA SCHEMES.

SAID THE SPOKESMAN: THE EXISTING SCALE OF FEES HAD BEEN UNCHANGED SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1975.+

+THE COST OF OPERATING THE TEXTILES EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM HAS RISEN SINCE THEN FROM $8 MILLION TO OVER $49 MILLION, DUE TO A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS MADE, INCREASES IN STAFF TO PROCESS THEM, INFLATION, AND COMPUTERISATION TO PROVIDE A MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE.

+THE CHANGES IN FEES ARE ESTIMATED TO RECOVER ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THE OPERATING COST OF THE SERVICE, COMPARED TO THE ONE-THIRD RECOVERED AT PRESENT. IT HAS BEEN DECIDED, HOWEVER, NOT TO SEEK TO RECOVER THE FULL COSTS TO AVOID CREATING AN EXCESSIVE BURDEN TO THE TRADE, HE ADDED.

FROM AUGUST