*********************************************************

Following is a speech by the Acting Secretary for Trade & Industry, Miss Yvonne Choi, in moving the resolution to make Import and Export (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 1999 approved in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Madam President,

I move that the resolution to make the Import and Export (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 1999 be approved.

Earlier today, the Industrial Training (Clothing Industry) (Amendment) Bill 1999 which requires exporters of clothing items to lodge their export declarations only by electronic means in future was read the third time and approved by the Council. I would now like to further request Members to approve the making of the Import and Export (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 1999. The Amendment Regulation seeks to delete the arrangement of lodging trade declarations in person under regulations 4, 5, 6, 7(1), 8 and 14(1). The Amendment Bill and the Amendment Regulation aim to achieve our plan of requiring trade declarations and export declarations of clothing items be submitted electronically from April 2000 onwards. This will be a step forward in promoting the widespread use of electronic commerce in the business community.

I now request Members to approve the making of the Import and Export (Registration) (Amendment) Regulation 1999.

Thank you, Madam President.

End/Wednesday, December 15, 1999

NNNN