Regulations Concerning Import and Export of Articles by ResidentOffices of Foreign Enterprises and Presses, and Their Staff StationChinan

Regulations Concerning Import and Export of Articles by ResidentOffices of Foreign Enterprises and Presses, and Their Staff StationChinan (The "Regulations Concerning Import and Export of Articles byResident Offices of Foreign Enterprises and Presses, and Their StaffStationed in China" (hereinafter referred to as 'the Regulations') hasbeen promulgated by the Cu stoms General Administration of the People'sRepublic of China and made available to China Economic News forpublication on 20 April, 1984.) Important Notice: In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.

Whole Document Regulations Concerning Import and Export of Articles by Resident Offices of Foreign Enterprises and Presses, and Their Staff Stationed in China (The "Regulations Concerning Import and Export of Articles by Resident Offices of Foreign Enterprises and Presses, and Their Staff Stationed in China" (hereinafter referred to as 'the Regulations') has been promulgated by the Customs General Administration of the People's Republic of China and made available to China Economic News for publication on 20 April, 1984.) Article 1 The Regulations hereby are formulated in accordance with the "Provisional Regulations Concerning Resident Offices of Foreign Enterprises", the "Provisional Regulations Concerning Resident Correspondents of Foreign Presses", and the "Rules Concerning Supervision and Control of Inward and Outbound Passenger Baggages by Customs", promulgated by the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

Article 2 The import of office appliances by the following resident offices and import or export of personal effects by their resident staff shall comply with the Regulations: 1. Resident offices of foreign enterprises and other economic organizations and their staff; 2. Resident offices of foreign economic and trade organizations and their staff; 3. Foreign resident news agencies and their resident correspondents; 4. Foreign resident personnel of joint ventures (including Chinese-foreign enterprises involving in cooperative exploitation of offshore petroleum); 5. Foreign resident personnel of enterprises operating in China using foreign capital; 6. Other foreign resident offices and their staff.

Article 3 Any baggage carried by resident personnel upon his first entry into China shall be subject to the regulations applicable to short-term visitors.

Having obtained a "Permanent Residence Permit" issued by the authorities concerned of the PRC, the resident personnel may apply to the local Customs (in case there is no local Customs in a certain area, he may apply to the designated Customs as listed in the appendix, hereinafter referred to as "Customs in charge") for import of personal effects by submitting a written application form, together with the residence permit, identity card and the "Baggage Declaration" endorsed by the Customs at the time of entry. Such application shall be allowed once only.

Personal effects imported in reasonable amount shall be released duty free after they are examined and approved by the Customs. Certain restricted articles (for example, durable goods such as electrical appliances for household use, etc.) together with hand luggage carried by any resident personnel upon his first entry and the unaccompanied baggage, shall be admitted duty free provided that they are within the quantitative limit set by the Customs. In case the articles exceed the prescribed limit and they are for private use or consumption, they shall be admitted against payment of duty subject to examination and approval by the Customs. Motor vehicles (cars and motorcycles) may be imported by resident personnel (one for each person) on payment of duty. Any resident personnel applying for import of personal effects and approved by the Customs shall be imported within six months from the date of approval.

Article 4 Any resident personnel leaving China temporarily (including making short trips to Hongkong or Macao) during his residence in China may, upon re- entry, bring in duty free articles allowed for the journey only. Other articles (such as wrist watches, cameras, radio-cassette recorders, cine- cameras, etc.) previously admitted duty free and carried by such person upon his exit, if intended to be subsequently brought back, shall be so declared in the "Baggage Declaration" against which they may be re- imported duty free, failing which, duty shall be levied.

Article 5 Baggage and articles (excluding those restricted articles such as gold, silver, currencies, and cultural relics, etc.) carried by resident personnel on his exit shall be released provided that they are for personal use and in reasonable amount.

Article 6 Any resident offices intending to import office appliances and vehicles shall submit a written application form to the Customs in charge and upon verification, admission shall be granted to those articles without requiring the Import Licence and provided that they are in reasonable amount and intended to be used by the office in question only. On import of the above-mentioned articles, the office concerned shall fill in the "Import Cargo Declaration" and submit it to the Customs together with the application form, invoices and other relevant documents, against which the articles shall be examined and released upon payment of duty.

If there is an agreement between a foreign government and the government of the PRC, articles concerned shall be dealt with according to the provisions of the agreement.

Article 7 Office appliances, vehicles and personal effects imported by resident offices and their staff shall not be offered for sale without permission.

When any sale is requested, permission shall be obtained from the Customs in charge and the articles concerned shall be sold to the stores designated by the local people's government. Duties shall be levied on those articles previously admitted duty free. Breaching of this rule shall be dealt with according to the relevant provisions.

Article 8 Articles declared for import or export by resident offices and their staff; of which the import or export are prohibited, shall be detained by the Customs and re-shipped abroad or re-directed to any place in China by the owner within a stipulated period; failing which, the articles concerned shall be disposed of by the Customs. Articles detained for being detrimental to Chinese political, economic, cultural, moral or hygienic interests shall not be returned and shall be disposed of by the Customs according to the relevant provisions.

Article 9 The Regulations is also applicable to the import and export of articles by resident offices of enterprises run by overseas Chinese or compatriots in Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan, and their staff.

Article 10 The Regulations do not apply to special economic zones.

Article 11 Those not provided for hereinabove shall be dealt with according to the relevant provisions.

Article 12 The Regulations shall be put into effect on May 1, 1984.