INTERIM PROVISIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE ADMI-NISTRATION OF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN ENTERPRISES
INTERIM PROVISIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE ADMI-NISTRATION OF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN ENTERPRISES
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document
INTERIM PROVISIONS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON THE ADMI-
NISTRATION OF RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF FOREIGN ENTERPRISES
(Promulgated by the State Council on October 30, 1980)
Article 1
These Provisions are formulated with a view to facilitating the
development of international economic and trade contacts and the
administration of resident representative offices in China of foreign
companies, enterprises and other economic organizations (hereinafter
referred to as "foreign enterprises").
Article 2
Any foreign enterprise desiring to establish a resident representative
office in China shall file an application for permission and, after
securing approval, go through the registration procedure. No resident
representative office to be established is allowed to start business
activities as such before approval and registration.
Article 3
When applying for permission to establish a resident representative office
in China, a foreign enterprise shall submit the following certificates and
papers:
a) an application form signed by the chairman of the board of directors or
the general manager of the enterprise. The application form shall include
such details as the name of the resident representative office to be
established, the name(s) of the responsible staff member(s), the scope of
activity, duration and site of the office;
b) the legal document sanctioning the operation of that enterprise issued
by the authorities of the country or the region in which that enterprise
operates;
c) the capital creditability document(s) issued by the financial
institution(s)
having business contacts with that enterprise; and
d) the credentials and resumes of the staff members of the resident
representative office appointed by that enterprise.
A banking or insurance institution which desires to open a resident
representative office shall, apart from submitting the certificates and
papers as specified in Paragraphs a, b and d, submit at the same time an
annual report showing the assets and liabilities and losses and profits of
the head office of that institution, its articles of association and the
composition of its board of directors
Article 4
Foreign enterprises wishing to establish resident representative offices
shall, according to their respective lines of business, apply to one of
the following departments for approval:
a) a trading or manufacturing enterprise or a shipping agency shall apply
to the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the People's Republic of China;
b) a financial or insurance institution shall apply to the People's Bank
of China; c) a maritime shipping enterprise or a maritime shipping agency
shall apply to the Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of
China;
d) an air transport enterprise shall apply to the General Administration
of Civil Aviation of China;
e) enterprises outside these lines of business shall, according to the
nature of their operations, apply to the competent commissions, ministries
or bureaus under the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Article 5
When granted approval to establish a resident office, a foreign enterprise
shall, within 30 days as of the date of approval, approach the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of
China, on the strength of the approval document, for going through the
registration procedure. The enterprise shall fill in a registration form,
pay registration fee and receive a registration certificate. The original
approval document shall be recalled in case of failure to register at the
expiry of the specified period.
Article 6
After the approval for the establishment of a resident representative
office is granted in accordance with the stipulations in Article 4, the
staff members of that office and their families shall, on the strength of
the approval document, go through the necessary formalities with the local
public security organ to obtain residence permits.
Article 7
When a resident representative office is to change its name, responsible
member(s), scope of operation, duration or address, it shall apply to the
original approving department and, after securing approval, approach the
State Administration for Industry and Commerce, on the strength of the
approval document, for going through the procedure for effecting changes
in registration and pay the fees. It shall also go through the procedures
with the local public security organ for changes of residence permits.
Article 8
A resident representative office shall, on the strength of the
registration certifi-cates and in accordance with the relevant
stipulations of the Bank of China, open an account at the Bank of China or
at any bank designated by the Bank of China.
Article 9
A resident representative office and its staff members shall, in
accordance with the stipulations of China's tax laws, go through the tax
registration procedure with the local tax office and pay taxes
accordingly.
Article 10
A resident representative office and its staff members shall declare to
China's Customs the imported office articles, articles for daily use and
means of transport and pay customs duties and the consolidated industrial
and commercial taxes as stipulated. Imported vehicles and ships shall be
registered with the local public security organ for obtaining the licence
plates and permits. Dues shall be paid to the local tax office for the use
of the vehicles and ships. Unauthorized transfer or sale of the above-
mentioned imported goods is not permitted. Where the need to effect a
transfer or sale arises, an application shall be submitted to the Customs
for approval before such transfer or sale can be effected. Such imported
goods can be sold only to designated shops.
Article 11
A resident representative office shall entrust local service units for
foreigners or other service units designated by the Chinese Government
with such matters as renting a house or engaging the service of Chinese
personnel.
Article 12
The Government of the People's Republic of China shall undertake to
protect, in accordance with the law, the legitimate rights and interests
of resident representative offices and their staff members and give them
facilities in their normal business activities.
Article 13
Resident offices are not allowed to install radio stations on Chinese
territory. They shall apply to the local telecommunications bureaus for
the renting of such commercial communications lines or communications
equipment as may be necessary for their business operations.
Article 14
The staff members of a resident representative office and their families
shall abide by Chinese laws, decrees and relevant regulations in all their
activities in China and in entering and leaving China.
Article 15
In case a resident representative office and its members violate these
Provisions or engage in other activities in contravention of Chinese laws,
the Chinese authorities have the power to look into the cases and deal
with them in accordance with the law.
Article 16
A resident representative office, when the duration of its operation
expires, or if it decides to end its business activities before the due
date, shall notify in writing the original approving department 30 days in
advance of the termination of its operation. After clearing up its debts,
paying its taxes and winding up other related matters, the resident office
shall go through the formalities with the original registration
certificate-issuing department for cancelling the registration and turn in
the certificate.
The foreign enterprise which the said resident representative office
represented, shall continue to be held responsible for any matter that the
said resident representative office may leave unfinished at the time of
its termination.
Article 17
Those resident representative offices that have already been established
with approval shall, within 30 days of the promulgation of these
Provisions, go through the procedure of registration with the State
Administration for Industry and Commerce of the People's Republic of China
on the strength of their documents of approval.
Article 18
Any other matter that may not be covered in these Provisions shall be
handled in accordance with the relevant Chinese laws, decrees and
regulations.
Article 19
Matters relating to resident representatives to be instituted by foreign
enterprises shall be dealt with by applying mutatis mutandis these
Provisions applicable to the establishment of resident representative
offices.
Article 20
These Provisions shall enter into effect as of the date of promulgation.
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