The Customs and Excise Department announced today (December 29) that from January 1, 2005, the unified road cargo manifest which is designed for the convenience of cross-boundary truck drivers and traders will be formally implemented by the Hong Kong Customs and the General Administration of Customs of People's Republic of China.
"The unified road cargo manifest has been on trial since January 1, 2004. After a year of testing and extensive consultation with the cross-boundary transportation industry and relevant parties involving in cross-boundary trade, the unified road cargo manifest has been revised and improved to better cater the needs of the stakeholders," a spokesman for the Customs and Excise Department said.
Starting from Saturday, drivers or carriers of laden goods vehicles can compile a set of six copies of unified road cargo manifest.
The first two copies are for submission to the Mainland Customs, the third one to Hong Kong Customs, which will collect the copies for Trade and Industry Department (the fourth copy) and the Census and Statistics Department (the fifth copy) respectively, while the sixth copy is for the driver's retention.
For empty goods vehicles, drivers or carriers need to compile a set of two copies of unified road cargo manifest with one for Mainland Customs and another for Hong Kong Customs.
"Not only will the use of unified road cargo manifest save the manifest completion time, improve accuracy in road cargo manifests, but also facilitate cross-boundary trade," the spokesman said.
Leaflets regarding the new arrangement will be given out to goods vehicle drivers at the land boundary control points, while briefing sessions for representatives of the cross-boundary transportation industry will also be arranged by Hong Kong Customs.
For sample of the new unified cargo manifest, please visit the Customs and Excise Department's website at http://www.info.gov.hk/customs.
For enquires on the implementation of the unified road cargo manifest, please call the Lok Ma Chau Control Point at 2482 8813 between 7am and 10pm from Monday to Friday, or the Commercial Office of Economic Affairs Department, Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong at 2519 0199 during office hours.
Ends/Wednesday, December 29, 2004