PROVISIONS ON THE CONTROL OF BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED ABROAD BY ENTER-PRISES WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT
PROVISIONS ON THE CONTROL OF BANK ACCOUNTS OPENED ABROAD BY ENTER-PRISES WITH FOREIGN INVESTMENT
(Promulgated on March 1, 1989)
Whole Doc.
Pursuant to the relevant stipulations of the "Rules for the
Implementation of Foreign Exchange Control Regulations Relating to
Enterprises with Overseas Chinese Capital, Wholly Foreign-Owned
Enterprises and Chinese-Foreign Joint Ventures", the following Provisions
are enacted to tighten control over the foreign exchange accounts opened
abroad by enterprises with foreign investment.
Article 1
A foreign-funded enterprise (hereinafter referred to as enterprise)
that wishes to open bank accounts abroad out of actual business and
operational needs shall apply for approval to the State Administration of
Exchange Control (SAEC) or one of its branches or sub-branch offices
(hereinafter referred to as exchange control authorities) where the
enterprise is located; it may open such accounts only after the
application has been granted.
Article 2
As used in Article 1, "actual business and operational needs" refer
to one of the following cases:
(1) If an enterprise has regular receipts in small amounts abroad and
needs to open bank accounts thereto put these receipts together before
repatriating them to China;
(2) If an enterprise has regular disbursements in small amounts
abroad the receipts entered in such kind of accounts shall consist of
remittances from China by the enterprise; or
(3) If an enterprise has to open bank accounts abroad out of special
business requirements.
Article 3
In applying to the exchange control authorities for approval to open
bank accounts abroad, an enterprise shall submit the following documents:
(1) An application affixed by the enterprise's official seal and
signed by the legal representative of the enterprise or a person
authorized by its board of directors, stating the reason for opening bank
accounts abroad, the specific currency involved, the sum of money, the
usage, the scope of receipts and disbursements, the using period, the bank
with which the accounts are to be opened, and the place where the bank is
located;
(2) A certificate issued by a public accountant registered in China
confirming that the enterprise's capital has been fully paid up according
to the relevant provisions;
(3) The document of approval issued by the competent authorities if
the enterprise has set up a representative office with resident personnel
abroad; and
(4) The measures adopted by the enterprise to manage its bank
accounts abroad.
Article 4
The enterprise shall open it accounts abroad with a bank in the
country or region where its foreign exchange receipts and payments mainly
occur. Priority shall be given to Chinese-owned banks, if there is any
there; a foreign bank with good credit standing may also be chosen if
there is a special need for this.
Article 5
The enterprise shall maintain complete and effective control over its
receipts and payments abroad and shall adopt effective managerial measures
to guarantee the safety of its funds.
Article 6
The enterprise must use its own name in opening bank accounts abroad
and is not allowed to transfer its funds to the accounts of other
organizations or individuals.
Article 7
The exchange control authorities shall examine and determine the
scope of receipts and disbursements to be covered by the enterprise's bank
accounts abroad as well as the deposit ceilings and the using period of
these accounts on the basis of the enterprise's application.
Article 8
The enterprise that opens bank accounts abroad with the approval of
the exchange control authorities shall submit to the said authorities,
within 1 month after the approval is given, a written certification
certifying that the accounts have been opened; otherwise, the document of
approval from the said authorities will become invalid automatically.
Article 9
Within 30 days after the expiry of the using period of its bank
accounts abroad, the enterprise must submit to the exchange control
authorities a certificate confirming that these accounts have been
cancelled, and must repatriate the balance to China, together with a
statement of account from the opening bank; in case the enterprise needs
to extend the using period of its accounts abroad, it must apply in
writing to the exchange control authorities within 30 days before the
expiry of the using period.
Article 10
The SAEC branch office that has approved an enterprise's application
to open bank accounts abroad shall submit the relevant data to the SAEC
for the record within 30 days of the approval.
Article 11
The enterprise shall submit photocopies of the opening bank's
statements, together with a statement of fund and its application, to the
exchange control authorities within 15 days after the end of each quarter.
Article 12
In accordance with the "Rules for the Implementation of Penalty of
Offenses Against Exchange Control" and on the merit of each case, the
exchange control authorities may impose penalties on an enterprise and/or
revoke its bank accounts abroad in one of the following cases:
(1) If the enterprise has exceeded the scope approved by the exchange
control authorities in using its bank accounts abroad;
(2) If the enterprise has failed to submit on time the bank
statements or other materials required by the exchange control
authorities;
(3) If the enterprise has opened bank account abroad without
authorization; or
(4) Other acts in violation of these Provisions.
Article 13
The right to interpret these Provisions resides in the SAEC.
Article 14
These Provisions shall go into effect on March 1, 1989.
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