ENG-1963 — Page 130

INDUSTRY AND TRADE

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in the goods covered and are issued against either specific under- takings to use certain Commonwealth raw materials or detailed cost statements prepared by public accountants approved for the purpose. For exports to Britain claiming preference, approved public accountants prepare forms E 120 which must be presented to the department for countersigning before they become acceptable to the British customs authorities. In all other matters pertaining to documentation they deal direct with HM Customs and Excise in London.

The co-operation and liaison established with overseas customs authorities continued during 1963 and proved to be beneficial to both the promotion and control of exports under certificates of origin of all types. During the year exports of goods certified by the Commerce and Industry Department to be of Hong Kong origin were valued at $978.58 million. Exports to Commonwealth territories, including Britain, covered by Commonwealth preference certificates were valued at $1,046.13 million.

The Foreign Assets Control Regulations of the United States Treasury Department prohibit the importation from Hong Kong of a wide range of goods which are presumed by American law to originate in the Peoples' Republic of China or in North Korea, unless evidence is produced to the contrary. The department kept under continual revision procedures to establish this evidence. During the year, 'presumptive' goods valued at $546.73 million were exported to the United States and its dependencies under comprehensive certificates of origin issued solely for this purpose. During 1963 the department issued 434,040 certificates of all kinds, an average of 1,440 a working day.

THE PREVENTIVE SERVICE

The Preventive Service is the uniformed and disciplined branch of the Commerce and Industry Department, with powers similar to those normally exercised by a customs and excise service for the protection of revenue from dutiable commodities. There are five dutiable commodities in Hong Kong (see chapter 4). The service is also responsible for anti-narcotics controls (see chapter 13) and for enforcing trade controls and inspecting factories and goods in connexion with the export of Hong Kong products under certificates of origin and Commonwealth preference certificates.