XN000022-1994-07-28 — Page 18

THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1994

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GARMENT TRADER FINED FOR

FALSE DECLARATION ON EXPORT NOTIFICATION

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) SUCCESSFULLY PROSECUTED A GARMENT TRADER FOR MAKING FALSE DECLARATION ON EXPORT NOTIFICATION.

THE HEAD OF CUSTOMS REMINDED TEXTILES TRADERS REGISTRATION SCHEME (TTRS).

TRADE CONTROLS, MR Y Y LEUNG, TODAY NOT TO ABUSE THE TEXTILES TRADERS

IN 1993,

PROVIDES

A CONVENIENT

THE TTRS, INTRODUCED ALTERNATIVE TO TRADERS IN IMPORTING AND EXPORTING TEXTILES.

NOTIFICATIONS IN PLACE OF LICENCES CAN BE USED TO COVER ALL TEXTILES IMPORTS AND EXPORTS то COUNTRIES WITHOUT QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON HONG KONG.

TRADERS REGISTERED UNDER THE TTRS ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO PROVIDE FULL AND CORRECT PARTICULARS OF THE CONSIGNMENTS ON THE NOTIFICATIONS AND THEN SUBMIT THEM TO THE TRADE DEPARTMENT THROUGH CARRIERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTING THE GOODS.

THE DEFENDANT, SHINE CREATION GARMENTS LIMITED, WAS FINED $6,178 AT TSUEN WAN MAGISTRACY TODAY FOR MAKING FALSE DECLARATION ON AN EXPORT NOTIFICATION WHICH COVERS 528 MEN'S COTTON SHIRTS.

THE SHIRTS, VALUED AT $20,000, WAS ARRANGED TO BE CUT AND SEWN IN CHINA BUT WAS LATER EXPORTED BY THE DEFENDANT UNDER COVER OF AN EXPORT NOTIFICATION ON WHICH THE DEFENDANT FALSELY DECLARED ITSELF ΤΟ BE THE MANUFACTURER OF THE SHIRTS AND THE GOODS WERE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN.

MR LEUNG ALSO SAID THAT PREVIOUS DEFENDANTS' NOTIFICATION FRAUD HAD RECEIVED MUCH HEAVIER PENALTIES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, A GARMENT FACTORY WAS FINED $40,000 FOR FALSELY DECLARED THE ORIGIN OF 2,300 BABIES COTTON BIB AND BRACE ON AN EXPORT NOTIFICATION. ANOTHER COMPANY WAS ALSO FINED $15,000 FOR MAKING FALSE DECLARATION ON IMPORT NOTIFICATION OF 6,804 SQUARE METRES OF FABRIC INTENDED TO BE RE-EXPORTED TO TAIWAN AS IMPORTED FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION.

MR LEUNG ADDED THAT THE CUSTOMS WAS TAKING VIGILANT ACTION ON NOTIFICATION CHECKING AND THEIR EFFORT HAD BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE COURTS.

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OTHER REGION) OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT, MR JOHN TSANG, SAID: "THE CONVENIENCE OF THE TTRS SHOULD NOT BE MISINTERPRETED AS A RELAXATION OF CONTROL.

"DEPENDING ON THE

SERIOUSNESS OF TH OFFENCE, CONVICTED TEXTILES TRADERS ARE LIABLE TO ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION WHICH MAY TAKE THE FORM OF DEREGISTRATION FROM THE SCHEME AND POSSIBLY DENIAL OF LICENSING FACILITIES, IN ADDITION TO THE PROSECUTION INSTITUTED AGAINST THEM.

"

ACTION

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