XN000022-1996-06-01+02 — Page 3

- 2 -

Reminder on prohibition of licence transfer

The Trade Department today (Saturday) reminded importers and exporters that licences issued by the department were not transferable and violation of this prohibition would lead to a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for two years.

They were also reminded that any person who deliberately supplied false or misleading information on a licence application or declaration, was committing an offence under the Import and Export Ordinance.

This would include a person who declares himself to be the importer or exporter on the licence application with a view to transferring the licence issued to another person. If found guilty of such an offence, that person would also be liable to a $500,000 fine and two years' jail sentence.

Issuing the reminder, a department spokesman said: "A licence is issued direct to the importer or exporter and not to any other person; and it can only be used by the person declaring himself to be the importer or exporter on the licence application concerned.

"In their own interests, importers and exporters should apply for the required licences themselves and licence applications should be submitted to the Trade Department direct."

Moreover, the spokesman said, the import or export of textiles other than under and in accordance with a valid licence issued by the department is an offence under the Import and Export Ordinance, unless the importer/exporter is a registered textiles trader under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme and has been granted exemption from licensing requirements in respect of certain textile articles under the Import and Export (General) Regulations.

Traders who are interested in participating in the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme are welcome to contact Mr K T Lee of the department's Non-restrained Textiles Branch on 2398 5476 for details.

End