WORLD TRADE G/LIC/N/1/HKG/3
G/LIC/N/2/HKG/2
9February 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-0463)
Original: English Committee onImport Licensing
AGREEMENT ONIMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES
Notification under Articles 5and8.2(b)
HONG KONG, CHINA
Thefollowing communication, dated 27January 1998, hasbeenreceived fromthedelegation
ofHong Kong, China.
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PursuanttoArticles5and8oftheAgreementonImportLicensingProcedures,Isubmitherewith
anotification onaControl System fortheImport andExport ofOptical DiscManufacturing Equipment
introduced bytheGovernment ofHong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) witheffect
from 29December 1997.
I.NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5
(a) Listofproducts subject tolicensing procedures:
Thelicensing scheme willapply tocomplete production linesofoptical discs, including such
keycomponent parts asillustrated atAppendix I.
(b) Contact point forinformation oneligibility:
Licensing Unit, Valuation andVerification Division, Customs andExcise Department, Room
1012, Canton Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
(c) Administrative body forsubmission ofapplications:
Same asabove.
(d) Dateandname ofpublication where licensing procedures arepublished:
"Guidance notes onhowtoapply foranimport/export licence" issued bytheCustoms and
Excise Department oftheGovernment oftheHKSAR inDecember 1997 isattached at
Appendix II1.
1Available forconsultation intheSecretariat (Market Access Division).G/LIC/N/1/HKG/3
G/LIC/N/2/HKG/2
Page2
(e) Indication ofwhether thelicensing procedure isautomatic ornon-automatic according to
definitions contained inArticles 2and3:
Theimport licensing procedure isnon-automatic according todefinitions contained inArticles 2
and3oftheAgreement.
(f) Inthecaseofautomatic import licensing procedures theiradministrative purpose:
Notapplicable.
(g) Inthecaseofnon-automatic import licensing procedures indication ofthemeasure being
implemented through thelicensing procedure:
Thelicensing system enables Customs officers ofHong Kong, China tobetter monitor the
flowofoptical discmastering andmanufacturing equipment intoandoutoftheHKSAR and
prevent them from being usedforcopyright infringing activities.
(h) Expected duration ofthelicensing procedure ifthiscanbeestimated withsome probability,
andifnot,reason whythisinformation cannot beprovided:
There isnoenddatetothelicensing requirement asthereiscontinuing needfortheGovernment
oftheHKSAR toenforce arobust intellectual property rights regime.
II.NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 8.2(b)
Acopy oftheImport andExport (General) Regulations andthelegal instrument amending
theRegulations areattached (Appendix III1).
1Available forconsultation intheSecretariat (Market Access Division).G/LIC/N/1/HKG/3
G/LIC/N/2/HKG/2
Page3
Appendix I
ListofEssential Components ofProduction Lines forProducing Optical Discs
Mastering equipment Replication equipment
Photoresist Preparation System andGlass Disc
Recycling machine Drying machine
Laser Beam Recorder CDMould
CDInjection Moulding System
Photoresist Developing machine CDSputtering System
Sputtering andMetallizing machine CDLacquering System
Galvanic Bathing machine DVD Binding machine
Stamper Punching machine CDInspection machine
Stamper Tester CDPrinting machine
Remarks:
Thislistwillbeupdated asandwhen necessary, andthemost recent listwillbeposted on
thenotice board oftheODMRE licence office, Room 1012, 10/F, Canton Road Government Office
Building, 393Canton Road, Kowloon. However, please takeparticular notice thatthelistisnotintended
tobeexhaustive. Inrespect ofanycomponent which isnotincluded inthelist,youmustseeklegal
advice toconfirm whether itisanessential component ofproduction linesforproducing optical discs.
Enquiries mayalsobemade withtheODMRE licence office at2723 3196.
Customs andExcise Office
29December 1997
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