XN000022-1983-12-02 — Page 4

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1983

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BILLS AIM TO PROTECT TRADING INTERESTS

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A SERIES OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AIMED AT PROTECTING HONG KONG'S TRADING INTERESTS AND FACILITATING THE PROCESSING OF IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE IMPORT AND EXPORT ORDINANCE AND THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE.

THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1983 GAZETTED TODAY SEEKS TO INCREASE FROM SIX MONTHS TO TWO YEARS THE MAXIMUM TERM OF IMPRISONMENT FOR IMPORTING OR EXPORTING UNMANIFESTED CARGO, IN LINE WITH THE PENALTIES FOR #MPORT AND EXPORT LICENSING OFFENCES.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN CONTROLS ON IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENCES OR DECLARATIONS AND TO FACILITATE THE ENFORCEMENT OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.

IT PROPOSES TO DO IT BY MAKING IT AN OFFENCE NOT ONLY TO MAKE A FALSE STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH IMPORT AND EXPORT APPLICATIONS AND DECLARATIONS OR TO ALTER A LICENCE BUT ALSO TO CAUSE SUCH A STATEMENT TO BE MADE, TO FORGE A LICENCE OR TO USE A FORGED OR ALTERED LICENCE.

TO COMPLEMENT THESE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, A NEW SECTION HAS BEEN PROPOSED MAKING THE DIRECTORS AND MANAGERS OF A CORPORATION GUILTY OF THE OFFENCE OF MAKING A FALSE STATEMENT WHICH THE CORPORATION ITSELF HAS COMMITTED UNLESS THE DIRECTOR OR MANAGER PROVES HE DID NOT KNOW THE OFFENCE WAS BEING COMMITTED OR DID ALL HE REASONABLY COULD TO PREVENT IT.

ANOTHER GAZETTE BILL THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 - PROPOSES TO RAISE FROM $500 TO $1 000 THE VALUE OF CLOTHING SAMPLES EXEMPTED FROM DECLARATION REQUIREMENTS.

TO DETER IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATION IRREGULARITIES, THE BILL SEEKS TO RAISE FROM $5 000 TO $10 000 THE MAXIMUM SURCHARGE THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE MAY IMPOSE ON AN EXPORTER WHO HAS UNDERSTATED THE VALUE OF CLOTHING IN AN EXPORT DECLARATION OR FAILED TO LODGE SUCH A DECLARATION.

IN ADDITION, THE BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE THE FINE FOR KNOWINGLY MAKING A FALSE DÉCLARATION FROM $5 000 TO $10 000.

THE FIRST READING OF THE TWO AMENDMENT BILLS AND COMMENCEMENT OF SECOND READING DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE ON DECEMBER 21, 1983, AND COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING WILL BE ON JANUARY 11, 1984.

ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE AMENDMENTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO MR C.S. LI OF TRADE CONTROLS OPERATIONS BRANCH OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AT 5-8916825.

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