XN000022-1992-10-21 — Page 18

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21,

1992

THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF EXEMPTING TEXTILES AND GARMENTS FROM LICENSING IN RESPECT OF THOSE TRANSHIPPED THROUGH HONG KONG WOULD ALSO DISCONTINUE.

"WE ANTICIPATE SUBSTANTIAL COST AND TIME SAVING FOR IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS. THERE WILL NO LONGER BE LONG QUEUES FOR THESE LICENCES IN THE TRADE DEPARTMENT. NOR WILL THERE BE A NEED TO COME ΤΟ THE TRADE DEPARTMENT FOR EVERY CONSIGNMENT,' MR TSANG SAID.

"I

"AT THIS TIME OF LABOUR SHORTAGE IN HONG KONG I HOPE THIS WILL COME AS WELCOME NEWS," HE ADDED.

AS TEXTILES AND GARMENTS WERE STILL HONG KONG'S LARGEST EXPORT, SOME 3.6 MILLION TEXTILES LICENCES INVOLVING IMPORT, ALL RE-EXPORT AND EXPORT TO NON-RESTRAINED MARKETS WERE ISSUED EVERY YEAR.

MR TSANG REMINDED TRADERS THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S OBLIGATIONS TO EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER TRADE IN CERTAIN RESTRAINED COMMODITIES, MAINLY TEXTILES AND GARMENTS, UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS TO WHICH HONG KONG WAS A PARTY.

"WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF LESSENING OUR EFFORT ΤΟ STAMP ILLICIT TRANSHIPMENT OF GOODS THROUGH HONG KONG. AS YOU KNOW, WE PUTTING IN PLACE ADDITIONAL MEASURES TO ENHANCE OUR CONTROL IN RESPECT.

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"ALTHOUGH INDIVIDUAL LICENCES MAY NO LONGER BE REQUIRED UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM FOR TEXTILE PRODUCTS DESTINED FOR NON-RESTRAINED COUNTRIES, CHECKS ON SHIPMENTS WILL BE STEPPED UP BY OUR CUSTOMS COLLEAGUES. THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE PHYSICAL CHECKS CONDUCTED ON ENTRY OR EXIT POINTS.

"WE DO NOT INTEND TO BE LENIENT TO THOSE WHO DELIBERATELY FLOUT OUR CONTROL MEASURES AND BRING OUR SYSTEM TO DISREPUTE IN THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING COMMUNITY," MR TSANG SAID.

HE SAID HE SHOULD HAVE NO HESITATION IN SUSPENDING THE REGISTRATION OF ANY REPEATED OFFENDER AND THUS DISQUALIFYING HIM FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE SIMPLIFIED LICENSING SCHEME.

"I MAY EVEN CONSIDER DENYING HIM OF OTHER LICENSING FACILITIES, HE SAID.

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AS FOR NON-TEXTILES LICENCES, MR TSANG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING A ONE-STOP UNIT FOR HANDLING SPECIAL IMPORT OR EXPORT LICENCES REQUIRED FOR HEALTH OR PUBLIC SAFETY REASONS.

AT PRESENT, AN APPLICANT FOR THIS KIND OF LICENCE WAS REQUIRED TO APPROACH MORE THAN ONE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

"MORE DETAILS OF THE RATIONALISED SYSTEM WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, AS I SAID, WE CANNOT SACRIFICE CONTROL.

"FOR THIS REASON THERE WILL BE CHANGES IN LAW ΤΟ PROVIDE FOR PROPER CONTROLS UNDER THE SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES I HAVE PROPOSED.

/"INSTRUCTIONS FOR