MEASURES FOR PROVIDING SHORT-TERM LOANS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY BY THEBANK OF CHINA
MEASURES FOR PROVIDING SHORT-TERM LOANS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY BY THEBANK OF CHINA
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from the "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
MEASURES FOR PROVIDING SHORT-TERM LOANS IN FOREIGN CURRENCY BY THE
BANK OF CHINA
(Approved and promulgated by the State Council on August 30, 1980)
These Measures for providing short-term loans in foreign currency are
hereunder formulated with a view to speeding up the socialist
modernization programme and, on the basis of self-reliance and by using
the foreign currency funds absorbed by the Bank of China, developing
production of exports and other economic under-takings and increasing
foreign exchange earnings as well.
Chapter I Eligible Borrowers and the Purposes for which Loans are to be Used
Article 1
Loans are to be granted to export-oriented industries and other
enterprises earning foreign exchange income directly or indirectly who can
meet the conditions for borrowing. The loans are primarily for encouraging
export-oriented industries to tap production potential and to support
their renovations and retooling old plants and equipments.
Article 2
The loans are to be used for:
a. financing imports of advanced technology, equipment and materials
essential to upgrading the borrower's productivity and the quality,
variety and packaging of export goods;
b. financing imports of raw materials and components to be processed for
export;
c. developing transportation and tourism and carrying out engineering
projects contracted in foreign countries;
d. supporting the processing of raw materials and assembling of parts
supplied by foreign buyers, and supporting compensatory trade; and
e. providing short-term working capital to production projects that
generate foreign exchange directly or indirectly.
Chapter II Conditions for Borrowing
Article 3
Applicants for loans must meet the following requirements:
a. Marked economic results: Preference is given to borrowers who are able
to earn more foreign exchange in proportion to the money invested and
repay bank loans sooner Borrowers should be able to run their enterprises
efficiently, make the most of the imported advanced technology, equipment
and raw materials, tap their production potential, renovate obsolete
plants and equipment, enhance the competitiveness of their export goods in
the international markets, thereby earning more foreign exchange and
accumulate more funds for the country.
b. Assurance of repayment: Borrowers must give evidence of a reliable
source of foreign exchange income and the ability to repay loans plus
interest for which they are required to submit a schedule of repayment.
Where loans are granted to the export-goods industry, the increased output
attributed to the loan should be primarily for export and not be included
in the state domestic marketing plan. The income from the increased output
and the export proceeds in foreign exchange should first be set aside for
repayment of the bank loan. In case the goods are to be turned over to a
foreign trade corporation for export, the borrower should sign a sales
contract with this corporation which commits the latter to repay the bank
loan in foreign exchange for the borrower.
Enterprises not directly related to the export trade must submit a
document of approval signed by the competent department committing the
latter to repay the loan from its own foreign exchange income. When
necessary, the bank may demand that some organization that has a regular
foreign exchange income stands surety for the borrower.
c. Availability of domestic factors of production to make imported
materials and equipment operational: Domestic factors of production refer
to factory buildings, equipment, steam, water, electricity and fuel, raw
materials, labour force, technological expertise and funds in Renminbi
requisite to making the imported equipment and materials operational.
These items must be duly arranged and approved by the Planning Commission
or the competent authorities who have to list them in their plans or sign
contracts with the borrower.
d. With respect to the items mentioned above, borrowers should obtain
prior approval of higher authorities for those items that require
allotment of funds for capital construction or technological
installations.
Chapter III Applications for and Utilization of Loans, and Examination and Approval of Applications
Article 4
Applications for loans should be submitted to the Bank of China (or
People's Bank of China where the Bank of China does not operate) together
with the following supporting documents: a document evidencing the
approval of the proposed project by the department in charge; a list of
imports the loan is to finance; a schedule proving the domestic factors of
production are available and a copy of the contract; a document approved
by the department in charge showing that counterpart funds in Renminbi
have been earmarked for repayment of the amount of Renminbi required for
the import of the equipment. In the case of a project where the producer
needs to repay the loan with earnings from the export of its products, the
producer should conclude with a foreign trade department a contract or an
agreement on production and sales, and on the repayment of the foreign
currency borrowed.
Article 5
Applications for loans by the departments under the State Council shall be
examined item by item against the prerequisites for borrowing by the head
office of the Bank of China. Applications by local departments and
enterprises shall be reviewed by the Bank of China's regional branches in
the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions within the bounds of
their respective loan quotas assigned by the head office. Cases that need
to be reviewed by the head office or ministries concerned should be
submitted to them for approval. In examining the applications, the Bank
should keep in touch with the departments in charge and work in close
cooperation with them.
Article 6
After the application is approved, the borrower should sign a loan
agreement, open a loan account with the Bank of China and place an order
for imports. If the borrower fails to sign the loan agreement or submit a
list of imports within the specified time, the Bank may revoke its
approval of the loan. The list of imports must be signed by the Bank
before the order is placed. Without the approval of the Bank, neither the
purpose for which the loan is to be used nor the descriptions and
quantities of imports should be changed. The borrower should submit to the
Bank a copy of the contract signed with a foreign trader who provides the
goods. The Bank should help the borrower to make the best use of the loan.
Article 7
For a substantial loan, the borrower should submit a quarterly withdrawal
plan according to which the Bank will arrange the funds. In case the plan
needs to be adjusted because of poor planning or unexpected changes of
circumstances, the borrower should apply to the Bank for adjustment a
month before the end of the quarter. For failure to carry out the plan,
the borrower shall bear additional bank charges on the amount of the
withdrawal falling short of, or in excess of, the planned amounts so as to
compensate the Bank for losses in raising funds from abroad.
Chapter IV Term of Loans and Rates of Interest
Article 8
The term of the loan is to begin from the day of the withdrawal to the day
of repayment of the principal and interest. The term of loans for
importing raw materials and components to be processed for export is
normally 1 year. The term of loans for importing equipment or materials to
be used in making equipment, and that of loans for other purposes shall
not exceed 3 years. Where loans take the form of buyers' credits, the
maturity shall not exceed 5 years.
Article 9
The interest rates for loans are to be determined and made public by the
head office of the Bank of China on the basis of the cost of raising funds
on the international money markets plus its handling charges.
Chapter V Repayment of Loans
Article 10
The borrower shall, in keeping with the loan agreement, repay the
principal before the loan runs out, and pay the interest regularly to the
Bank. If the borrower fails to repay, the surety is responsible for
repayment. If necessary, the Bank of China or the People's Bank of China
may force repayment by debiting the foreign currency deposit account of
the borrower or the surety (or by writing off the foreign exchange quota
allotted to the borrower and seizing his counterpart funds in Renminbi
earmarked for the purchase of the foreign exchange quota).
Article 11
A borrower who has a regular foreign exchange income should repay the loan
from its foreign exchange earnings. A borrower who is not directly
involved in the export trade should repay the loan from export proceeds
received through a foreign trade corporation. This corporation or some
other organization which stands surety for the borrower should issue a
certificate to "repay foreign exchange quota" against which the borrower
may purchase foreign exchange with Renminbi from the Bank of China to
repay the loan. Foreign exchange earnings from processing raw materials
and assembling parts provided by foreign buyers or earnings from
compensatory trade must first be set aside for repayment of the loan.
Article 12
Loans made to finance a construction project by a state-owned enterprise
may be repaid out of profits derived from the increased output, out of
depreciation reserves for fixed assets, or out of changes payable to the
government for the use of fixed assets. Enterprises that are authorized
to retain a portion of their profits may make repayment from the retained
profits after deductions for the staff's welfare fund and bonus fund.
However, deductions for the production development fund and for retention
of increased profits are not allowed. Loans to collectively owned township
enterprises may be repaid out of profits derived from the increased output
(profits before tax) or from depreciation reserves for fixed assets. The
department in charge is not allowed to collect profits or demand payment
out of the project financed by the bank loan before the loan is repaid. If
the above-mentioned funds are sufficient to repay the loan and a surplus
remains, income tax shall be paid on the surplus or a percentage of
profits shall be turned over to the government as required. If not, the
deficit may, with the consent of the tax authorities, be covered by the
industrial and commercial tax on the increased output which would
otherwise be collected. When applying for the loan, the borrower should
send a copy of the application to the tax authorities for the record.
Chapter VI Buyers' Credits
Article 13
When loans are provided in the form of the buyers' credits, the following
rules shall apply, apart form other provisions in the Measures:
a. The borrower must abide by the provisions in the buyer's credit
agreement that the Bank of China has signed with a foreign bank and must
place orders for imports from the country in which the foreign bank is
located.
b. The borrower must indicate in the order for imports that the buyer's
credit is to be used for payment. The commercial contract signed between a
Chinese foreign trade corporation and the foreign seller should indicate
the name of the bank providing the buyer's credit.
c. At the time the commercial contract is signed, the Bank of China shall
negotiate with the foreign bank providing the buyer's credit and sign an
agreement on the drawdown of the credit. The agreement shall be signed by
head office of the Bank of China or by one of its branches with its
authorization.
Chapter VII Loan Administration
Article 14
Choosing the best possible loanees. The Borrower must maximize the
effective productivity of the loan by relying on cost accounting.
Preference is given to the borrower who earns more foreign exchange in
proportion to the amount of the loan granted and makes repayment sooner.
The borrower who performs poorly or who is unable to repay his loan upon
maturity, will not receive further loans until he shows improvement in
management.
Article 15
Clearly specifying the responsibilities. Both the Bank and the borrower
shall abide by the loan agreement: the Bank undertakes to provide the
loanable funds; the borrower undertakes to draw on the loan and utilize
its productive potential effectively. The Bank shall raise the interest by
10-50% for overdue loans counting from the maturity date, and by 100% for
loans diverted to uses other than those authorized by the bank.
Article 16
Exercising bank supervision. The Bank shall inquire into each project
before financing it, examine the borrower's application before approving
it and oversee the performance of the borrower after the loan is granted.
The Bank has the duty to help the borrower achieve its economic goals. In
this way the bank shall fulfil its role of promoting, regulating and
supervising the economic activities of the borrower.
For large loans, the Bank shall sit in on the negotiations between the
borrower and the foreign supplier and make suggestions as to the preferred
currency for making payment and the method of payment. The borrower must
provide the bank with all necessary information, documents, statistics and
a duplicate of the relevant contract. The borrower shall be held
accountable for violation of government decrees and policies; failure to
abide by the regulations, the contract or the agreement; dissipation of
foreign exchange; or failure to repay the loan when due. At the same time
the Bank may take such disciplinary actions as suspending or recalling the
loan before maturity, raising the interest rate or even suing the borrower
in a court of law.
Chapter VIII Supplementary Provisions
Article 17
On the date these Measures come into force, Regulations for Providing
Short-term Loans in Foreign Currency, issued by the Ministry of Finance on
September 29, 1978, shall no longer be valid except for loans and loan
agreements previously approved and signed. Rules for the implementation
of these Measures shall be formulated separately by the Bank of China.
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