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"The joint teams may also visit factories which have effected shipments in the 12 categories that are currently in transit or awaiting clearance at US ports, or have entered the US after June 17 this year."
The spokesman said similar to the September joint factory visits, the joint teams would not undertake any enforcement activities during the January visits. Enforcement activities including the inspection of factory books and records would be undertaken by Hong Kong Customs independently, and separately from the joint visits.
"If the joint teams confirm that a consignment is of Hong Kong origin, the US Customs will lift the single entry bond requirement for the consignment; or if the single entry bond has already been submitted, the US Customs will liquidate the entry and the importer will be relieved of all conditional release obligations," the spokesman added.
The US Customs started imposing additional import measures on 10 categories of Hong Kong textiles products on June 17. Such measures include additional requirements in import documentation and the requirement for a single entry bond. The US Customs also demanded verification by US Customs of the origin of consignments.
In addition, starting from September 1, the US Customs put four other categories of Hong Kong textiles products on a "watch list" for monitoring of any illegal transhipment.
Hong Kong has disagreed to US Customs conducting verification checks in Hong Kong factories but consented to HK/US Customs joint visits to factories to observe Hong Kong's control system. Hong Kong has also raised objections to the US' additional import requirements and the "watch-list", mainly on the grounds that such measures have been imposed unilaterally; that they apply to the relevant products only from Hong Kong and are therefore discriminatory; and that they adversely affect both legitimate and illegitimate trade indiscriminately.
"Hong Kong is determined to combat illegal transhipment and as part of our on- going efforts, we welcome co-operation with our trading partners to do a better job together," the spokesman said.
"But any such co-operation has to be in line with our domestic laws and procedures and our international rights and obligations. It should reinforce rather than interfere with our own efforts under Hong Kong's long-established control systems.
"We also need to be satisfied that any measures against illegal transhipment do not unnecessarily hinder legitimate trade," the spokesman said.
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