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The Trade and Industry Department (TID) and the five Government-approved certification organisations will begin accepting applications for Certificates of Hong Kong Origin-CEPA tomorrow (December 30), after Hong Kong has been notified of the 2004 Mainland tariff codes.

The approved certification organisations are the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

Under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), the Mainland agreed to eliminate tariffs on goods imported from Hong Kong in 273 Mainland 2001 tariff codes from January 1, 2004.

Goods claiming CEPA tariff preference must fulfill CEPA rules of origin and be supported by a CO(CEPA), as the Certificates of Hong Kong Origin are known.

Under the new set of 2004 Mainland tariff codes, the 273 products have been regrouped and reclassified into 374 tariff lines. The Trade and Industry Department reminded traders that they must enter the relevant 2004 Mainland tariff codes in their CO(CEPA) applications.

A table entitled "CEPA Initial Phase of Tariff Preference - Mainland 2004 tariff codes, product description and origin criteria" setting out the applicable Mainland tariff codes and corresponding origin criteria can be found on the Trade and Industry Department website at www.tid.gov.hk/tc_chi/cepa/trade_goods.html. (The English version will be available shortly.) Hard copies are available at the Customer Service Centre of the department's Certification Branch.

To expedite processing, applicants should provide accurate details. They are advised to read the "Note for Traders Lodging CO(CEPA) Applications via EDI" carefully before they apply. The Note can be seen at www.tid.gov.hk/english/aboutus/publications/registcert/registcert.html.

Traders should also check the same site for regular updates.

Completed applications can be sent via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to the Trade and Industry Department or any of the other five approved certification organisations starting on December 30.

Detailed application procedures can be found in Certificate of Origin Circulars No.23/2003, No.24/2003 and No.27/2003, which can be downloaded from the Trade and Industry Department's webpage www.tid.gov.hk/english/cepa/trade_goods.html.

For enquiries, please contact:

Certification Branch

3/F., Trade and Industry Department Tower

700 Nathan Road, Kowloon

Tel : 3403 6432/2398 5525

Fax : 2787 6048

Email : cepaco@tid.gov.hk

Ends/Monday, December 29, 2003

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