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Guide to Customs Clearance of Reporting Equipment Carried by Foreign Journalists
01/25/2010

I. Applicability

This Guide to Customs Clearance of Reporting Equipment Carried by Foreign Journalists (hereinafter referred to as the “Guide”) is used as a reference for resident foreign journalists and foreign journalists for short-term coverage in China to go through customs clearance procedures for the entry and exit of the reporting equipment carried by them. 


Resident foreign journalists refer to the professional journalists who are dispatched by foreign news agencies for a mission of over 6 months of news coverage within the customs territory of the P.R.C. They hold J-1 visa. 


Foreign journalists for short-term coverage refer to the professional journalists who stay within the customs territory of the P.R.C. for no more than 6 months for the purpose of news coverage. They hold J-2 visa. 


II. Customs clearance procedures for entry and exit of reporting equipment
A. Resident foreign journalists
Resident foreign journalists wishing to bring reporting equipment into or out of the customs territory of the P.R.C. shall go through necessary procedures in accordance with the Rules of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China on Entry and Exit of Articles of Resident Offices for Official Use (Decree No. 115 of the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China). 


Prior to applying for entry of articles for official use for the first time, resident offices of foreign news agencies established in China shall go through the recordation formalities at the competent customs house upon the strength of relevant documents.

When applying for entry of articles for official use, resident offices shall file an application with the competent customs house and present the Customs Recordation Certificate, the Customs Application Form for Entry and Exit of Articles for Official Use (hereinafter referred to as the “Application Form”), bills of lading (waybills), invoices and other related documents. When going through declaration procedures with the Customs at the place of entry for articles for official use, resident offices shall fill out or entrust a customs broker to fill out the Import Declaration Form, and present the Application Form approved by the competent customs house, bills of lading (waybills), invoices and other related documents. 


B. Foreign journalists for short-term coverage
1. Journalists accompanying state guest delegations 
Journalists who accompany state guest delegations headed by heads of state, heads of government or foreign ministers on visits to China and wish to carry reporting equipment into the customs territory of the P.R.C. shall submit to the customs at the place of entry the Certificate Letter for Reporting Equipment of Journalists Accompanying State Guest Delegations issued by the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, the list of reporting equipment and other documents as required by the customs to go through the entry procedures. 


Once the state guest delegations have concluded the visits, the accompanying journalists shall re-export the reporting equipment out of the customs territory of the P.R.C. in time. 


2. Journalists with letter of guarantee
a) Entry procedures
For the entry of their reporting equipment, journalists shall submit to the customs at the place of entry the letter of guarantee issued by organizations which are qualified by the customs to issue such letter of guarantee or by banks or non-bank financial institutions authorized by the customs, the list of reporting equipment, J-2 visa and other related documents to go through the entry procedures. Upon completion of the entry procedures, journalists will receive an envelope sealed by customs which should be properly kept for the re-exportation formalities of the reporting equipment. 


b) Exit procedures
When exiting, journalists shall present to the customs at the place of exit the envelope sealed and issued by the customs at the place of entry. 


When the place of entry and the place of exit are the same port, the customs at the place of exit will, after confirming that all the equipment carried by the journalists is re-exported, note and stamp on the original letter of guarantee, complete the write-off procedures and return the stamped letter of guarantee to the journalists. 


If the journalists enter and exit via different ports, the customs at the place of exit will, after confirming that all the equipment carried by the journalists is re-exported, put the letter of guarantee duly noted and stamped by it into a customs envelope, seal it and return it to the journalists or the organizations issuing the letter of guarantee. The journalists (or the issuing organizations) shall submit the letter of guarantee noted and stamped by the customs at the place of exit or the customs envelope to the customs at the place of entry to complete the closing procedures on the letter of guarantee. 


3. Journalists without letter of guarantee
Journalists without letter of guarantee may, by themselves, provide the customs with related documents, pay a security for the temporary admission of their reporting equipment, and after the completion of re-exportation of the equipment, get the security refunded. 


a) Entry procedures

When entering with reporting equipment, journalists shall take the red channel, fill out the Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers (hereinafter referred to as the “Declaration Form”; see annex 1), display their J-2 visa, and submit two copies of the list of reporting equipment to declare the equipment to the customs at the place of entry. 

Journalists shall then pay a security (in RMB cash) in light of the amount specified in the Receipt of Customs Security/Caution Money/Mortgage issued by the customs. 


After completing the entry procedures, journalists shall ask the customs at the place of entry for an Application Form for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry (hereinafter referred to as the “Application Form”, see annex 3), fill out the form, and keep it properly together with the customs envelope sealed and issued by the customs at the place of entry for future use at the place of exit to go through the necessary exit formalities there. 


b) Exit and security refund procedures
To apply for refund of security at the place of exit for the reporting equipment, a journalist shall, 4 days in advance prior to exit, fax the Application Form and the receipt copy of the Receipt of Customs Security/Caution Money/Mortgage to the customs at the place of exit (see Annex 4 for contact persons, telephone and fax numbers) and then make confirmation. 


When exiting with the reporting equipment, journalists shall submit to the customs at the place of exit the Application Form and the customs envelope sealed and issued by the customs at the place of entry. 


After confirmation, the customs at the place of exit will refund to the journalists an amount in cash or cash cheque in RMB which equals the amount deposited at the place of entry. 


After receiving the refunded amount, the journalist shall sign on a Verification and Approval Form for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry for confirmation.


Where a journalist fails to file the application with the Customs at the place of exit within the prescribed time limit for refund of security for his/her reporting equipment at the place of exit, or the documents he/she has submitted are incomplete, the Customs at the place of exit will not handle the formalities for refund of security for his/her reporting equipment.


C. Reporting Equipment (Facilities) under Special Management
Where a foreign journalist needs to import radio communication equipment temporarily for the purpose of coverage, the approval documents issued by related authorities shall also be submitted to the customs at the place of entry. 

Annexes: 
1. China Customs Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers (Sample)
2. Instructions for China Customs Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers 
3. Application Form for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry
4. Contact Persons and Telephone Numbers of Relevant Customs Houses

5. Duty Rates of Relevant Cameras (Video Cameras), Recorders, Editing Equipment and Accessories 


Annex 1:

China Customs Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers (Sample)

 



Annex 2:

Instructions for China Customs Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers

The China Customs Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming/Outgoing Passengers (hereinafter referred to as the “Declaration Form”) is composed of three parts, i.e. basic information of passengers, declaration items of passengers and detailed list of declaration items. Passengers are required to fill in each box or tick in corresponding boxes. Passengers are also required to fill in the red-colored boxes personally. In filling out the form, please follow the instructions below:

1. Incoming journalists only need to fill in the “For Incoming Passengers” section.

2. Incoming journalists are required to fill in their basic personal information as required by the Declaration Form. The information so supplied shall be truthful and detailed.

3. When carrying goods to be declared as required by the Customs, journalists are required to tick in the appropriate box(es) under the line reading “Passengers who are taking the following articles please mark ‘√’ in the appropriate boxes”. Where the reporting equipment carried by a journalist falls within the category of “Other articles that should be declared to the Customs”, he is required to tick in that box.

4. Under the line reading “Passengers who are taking any articles included in the items above shall fill out this form in detail”, journalists are required to faithfully fill in detail in the description, type/model, quantity and value of their reporting equipment.

5. Journalists who carry multiple items of reporting equipment are required to attach a list of the equipment to the declaration form.

 

Annex 3:

Application Form for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry

____________________ Customs:

I am ______________________ from the country (region) of_______________________. I have come to China (the mainland) to report as a journalist. My passport number is ________________. I entered China (the mainland) on the date of (yyyy-mm-dd) _____________________ via the port of_____________________, where I deposited an amount of RMB _________________ yuan as security for my reporting equipment. I plan to leave China (the mainland) at _____ hours _____ minutes on the date of ______________________ by Flight (Train/Vehicle/Vessel) No. ________________ via the port of _____________________. I hereby apply for refund of the security I deposited upon entry, at the port of _________________, from where I will leave China (the mainland).

Applicant: (Signature)

Date: yyyy - mm - dd

Note: In case a journalist loses the Customs envelope, when exiting, he/she can only get the refund at the Customs at the place of entry where he/she has deposited the security.


 

Annex 4:

Contact Persons and Telephone Numbers of Relevant Customs Houses

Customs

Name

Office Number

Fax

Beijing Customs

T3

WU Ling

010-85734300

010-64556820

T2

SHI Yi

010-85735785

010-64590507

Station

BAO Qiang

010-85735683

010-51933590

Tianjin Customs

Airport

TUO Ya

022-24905992

022-24905970

GUO Keke

022-24905991

022-24905976

Xin’gang

WANG Binwei

022-65308212

022-65308214

Shijiazhuang Customs

WEI Qunbiao

0311-87869203

0311-87869109

Taiyuan Customs

TIAN Baozhen

0351-7287023

0351-7287009

Hohhot Customs

LI Liang

0471-6982946

0471-6982941

Manchuria Customs

Manchuria

BAI Shufeng

0470-2321539

0470-2321537

Hailar

WANG Ying

0470-2219580

0470-2219562

WANG Jian

0470-2219580

0470-2219562

LI Ming

0470-2219563

0470-2219562

Erguna

REN Dehui

0470-2355967

0470-2355967

Dalian Customs

Harbor

TANG Jian

0411-82618278

0411-82618278

Airport

Qü Hua

0411-82618577

0411-82618575

Dandong

JIN Deguo

0415-2123409

0415-2123409

Dadong Port

CONG Liqun

0415-7149971

0415-7148517

Bayuquan

WANG Song

0417-6140302

0417-6140140

Shenyang Customs

WU Jingliang

024-22695196

024-22695205

Changchun Customs

SUN Mingquan

0431-84601215

0431-88798698

ZHOU Yu

0431-84601618

0431-84601665

Harbin

WANG Jing

0451-82381513

0451-82381737

Harbin Customs

Qiqihar

YANG Yong

0452-2456026

0452-2446217

YAO Jingyu

0452-2456008

0452-2446218

Jiayin

LAN Hui

0458-2678912

0458-2624096

Dongning

SONG Bo

0453-3679852

0453-3679905

Luobei

DENG Weiguang

0468-6823661

0468-6823661

Fujin

YU Lei

0454-2321964

0454-2331854

Raohe

YUE Qiang

0469-5620333-6203

0469-5626079

Jiamusi

ZHENG Dan

0454-8686950

0454-8609257

Tongjiang

SUN Jun

0454-2931541

0454-2922908

Xunke

WANG Jiazhuo

0456-4453751

0456-4457487

Suifenhe

LI Xiujie

0453-3933737

0453-3923405

XING Dandan

0453-3953590

0453-3923405

Fuyuan

ZHAO Guoyu

0454-2121663-2141

0454-2121400

Heihe

ZHU Hongbin

0456-8230590

0456-8220080

Mishan

YANG Yongxiang

0467-5211511

0467-5235051

Taiping Airport

WANG Hefei

0451-82894255

0451-82895427

CONG Yongsheng

0451-82894256

0451-82895427

WEI Shizhao

0451-82894257

0451-82895427

Mudanjiang

WANG Tao

0453-5888359

0453-6252254

Shanghai Customs

Pudong Airport

FU Lei

021-68841118-4830

021-68340465

ZHU Hong

021-68841118-4831

021-68340465

Pujiang

DING Yi

021-65416408

021-65416408

Station

ZHI Yimei

021-51234130

021-52657500

Nanjing Customs

Lukou Airport

WANG Xiaofeng

025-52482050-3251

025-52482208

Wuxi

Lü Yingchun

0510-85328500

0510-85323237

QIANG Xiaochen

0510-85323655

0510-85323237

Yancheng

GAO Jingjin

0515-88258628

0515-88215051

Xuzhou

DONG Jing

0516-83736336

0516-83757674

Lian’yun’gang

YANG Baogang

0518-82368185

0518-82368185

Hangzhou Customs

Xiaoshan Airport

PENG Xiao

0571-86660122

0571-86660129

LU Shan

0571-86660122

0571-86660129

XU Kai

0571-86660122

0571-86660129

Wenzhou

PAN Wei

0577-86876030-8214

0577-86875040

CHENG Haiou

0577-86876030-8209

0577-86875040

Yiwu

XU Chong

0579-85292609

0579-85290019

SHI Qingsong

0579-85250256

0579-85290019

Zhoushan

LING Long

0580-2080658

0580-2080880

Ningbo Customs

HE Ling

0574-89090683

0574-88268145

Hefei Customs

Hefei

ZHANG Jing

0551-3401892

0551-3401897

Huangshan

LIU Zhong

0559-2346327

0559-2516929

Fuzhou Customs

Airport

Yü Yühong

0591-28013109

0591-28013039

LIU Xiaoduo

0591-28013109

0591-28013039

Mawei

WU Zeying

0591-87083237

0591-83987561

Wuyishan

LIU Sisheng

0599-5137979

0599-5137979

Xiamen Customs

Postal Offices

LIN Lixia

0592-2359287

0592-2359284

Gaoqi Airport

LI Yanyan

0592-2359616

0592-2359611

YIN Lengyuan

0592-2359613

0592-2359611

LIN Lihong

0592-2359631

0592-3216620

Quanzhou

WANG Shaoying

0595-22909727

0595-86097711

Nanchang Customs

HU Meiliang

0791-3960981-8303

0791-3960140

Qingdao Customs

Yantai

FAN Hongli

0535-6742627

0535-6743071

ZHANG Yan

0535-6985018

0535-6985003

Ji’nan

WANG Yi

0531-82080630

0531-82080600

Rizhao

Lü Xianghong

0633-8388862

0633-8772506

Rongcheng

TANG Aihua

0631-7370811

0631-7370811

ZHANG Mingming

0631-7836978

0631-7833288

Weihai

ZHANG Zhicheng

0631-8646897

0631-8646900

YU Shiqiang

0631-8646897

0631-8646900

ZHANG Jingtong

0631-5241031

0631-5241032

Liuting Airport

Xü Hui

0532-83789436

0532-83789431

SU Liang

0532-83789436

0532-83789431

LIU Yuanliang

0532-83789463

0532-83789463

SANG Zhenhua

0532-83789463

0532-83789463

Dagang

SONG Yong

0532-82932905

0532-82854837

Zhengzhou Customs

Airport

JIN Le

0371-68510065

0371-68511606

Wuhan Customs

LI Zhiguo

027-85818363

027-85818052

Changsha Customs

Huanghua Airport

HE Yongxia

0731-84797688

0731-84796037

Zhangjiajie Airport

ZENG Linghui

0744-8389135

0744-8389337

Guangzhou Customs

Baiyun Airport

YANG Chunhua

020-81101984

020-36066538

Panyu

DAI Minxian

020-84863828

020-84860238

XIONG Biyi

020-84861755

020-84860238

Zhaoqing

WU Huixiong

0758-2716470

0758-2716494

Foshan-Gaoming

GUAN Fuqie

0757-88881850

0757-88825510

CUI Yunjian

0757-88822071

0757-88825510

CHEN Guoling

0757-88822071

0757-88635166

Foshan-Chancheng

ZHOU Fei

0757-82810285

0757-82810285

Foshan-Shunde

ZHU Xuejing

0757-22822991

0757-22822035

Tianhe Station

LI Yunhao

020-38774006

020-38774006

Nansha

FENG Jie

020-84688715

020-84688352

ZHANG Jie

020-84688715

020-84688352

LI Chaoxiong

020-84688715

020-84688352

Shenzhen Customs

Huanggang

LIU Jianhang

0755-84396787

0755-83379985

LI Jingchun

0755-84396523

0755-84396521

Luohu

GUO Zhuibin

0755-84399117

0755-84399142

Wenjindu

CHEN Yaqun

0755-84396273

0755-82201381

Shekou

HUANG Yun

0755-26889664

0755-26889664

ZHOU Shuo

0755-26889664

0755-26889664

Airport

CAO Haoyun

0755-27770001

0755-27776400

CHEN Yini

0755-27776347

0755-27776400

Shenzhen Bay

CHEN Shanshan

0755-84393125

0755-84393039

Shatoujiao

CHEN Shan

0755-84397584

0755-84397584

PEI Lei

0755-84397584

75584397584

FENG Xia

0755-84398224

0755-84398730

Gongbei Customs

Zhakou

LI Zhigang

0756-8162552

0756-8287236

Zhuhai

JIANG Wenxia

0756-8918018

0756-8918001

Zhongshan

HUANG Yaobin

0760-85596389

0760-85596383

Hengqin

LOU Ying

0756-8688252

0756-8688252

Jiuzhou

ZENG Yuyan

0756-3332183-5271

0756-3332183-5309

GU Junguo

0756-3332183-5272

0756-3332183-5309

Doumen

WANG Miaoran

0756-5501500-6122

0756-5511562

Wanzai

GU Xiaoting

0756-8821110

0756-8823584

Shantou Customs

Meizhou

LIANG Hui

0753-2242810

0753-2242744

Airport

CHEN Bin

0754-88627641

0754-88627641

Huangpu Customs

Taiping

JIANG Langtao

0769-22006891

0769-85511608

Changping

ZHANG Shumao

0769-83811627

0769-83811627

Jiangmen Customs

Jiangmen

WU Hong

0750-3773236

0750-3773258

Heshan

LU Qixun

0750-8820981

0750-8821001

Zhanjiang Customs

BAI Yongge

0759-3255323

0759-2311309

Nanning Customs

Airport

WEI Xianke

0771-2095500

0771-2095683

WU Huajun

0771-2095500

0771-2095683

Beihai

CHEN Meirong

0779-2020511-5025

0779-2038559

Guilin

QIAO Dong

0773-2844029

0773-2844010

LI Feng

0773-2844030

0773-2844010

Fangcheng

LI Qingmin

0770-2823748

0770-2822329

Dongxing

HUANG Fei

0770-7681065

0770-7682527

Pingxiang

WU Jianjun

15977183519

0771-8537150

Shuikou

LI Tianheng

0771-8870253

0771-8811300

Longbang

LI Fang

0776-6486066

0776-6486240

HUANG Dejun

0776-6701072

0776-6701317

Haikou Customs

Haikou

CHEN Zhen

0898-65751940

0898-65751946

Lü Xiaolei

0898-65751940

0898-65751946

Sanya

YIN Lixia

0898-88289563

0898-88289643

WU Huihua

0898-88289563

0898-88289643

Chongqing Customs

Airport

ZOU Xuhong

023-67153210

023-67152645

Chengdu Customs

GUO Yiqiao

028-85205781

028-85205593

Guiyang Customs

BAI Ning

0851-5786369

0851-5499653

Kunming Customs

Airport

HAN Bin

0871-7113705

0871-7113705

ZHAO Yü

0871-7113705

0871-7113705

Lü Donghua

0871-7113705

0871-7113705

Wanding

LI Hongjiang

0692-5153053

0692-5153053

Ruili

YANG Zenghou

0692-4109242

0692-4109242

Mengding

TAN Shaomu

0883-6570099

0883-6570099

Daluo

HUANG Haiming

0691-5561006

0691-5561006

Mengla

LEI Liangzhi

0691-8811006

0691-8811006

Hekou

BAI Huaiqing

0873-3428936

0873-3428936

Jinshuihe

CHEN Jiaxing

0873-8340094

0873-5340094

Tianbao

ZHAO Yue

0876-6550095

0876-6550095

Xishuangbanna

WEI Deda

0691-2197771

0691-2197771

Lhasa Customs

Cidanluobu

0891-6283131

0891-6283131

Xi’an Customs

Xian’yang Airport

WANG Ting

029-83196459

029-88797011

Lanzhou Customs

HUANG Zhiheng

0931-7705171

0931-7705272

Xi’ning Customs

LIU Lei

0971-8866350

0971-8800686

Yinchuan Customs

ZHANG Wei

0951-5679057

0951-6912396

Urumqi Customs

Urumqi

Tuerxun

0991-3627531

0991-3627531

Saimaiti

Airport

Dilixia

0991-3807139

0991-3807136

Alashankou

XIE Hao

0909-6992771

0909-6992098

Kashi

WANG Zhifang

0909-2905035

0909-2905034

Altay

LI Yage

0906-8588050

0906-8588050

LIU Jianghua

0906-6491668

0906-6491666

Tacheng

XING Fu

0901-6225120

0901-6225050

Horgos

Yilibao

0999-8791150-7618

0999-8790900

Annex 5:

Duty Rates of Relevant Cameras (Video Cameras), Recorders, Editing Equipment and Accessories

No.

Equipment

Import Duty (MFN rate)

1

Television cameras

—— For special purposes

10%

—— Broadcast quality, not for special purposes

35% for dutiable price of no more than US$5,000; 3% + RMB 12960 for dutiable price of over US$5,000

2

Digital cameras

0%

3

Video camera recorders

0%

4

Other cameras

——Film width less than 35mm

25%

——Film width is 35mm

20%

5

Lens for single lens reflex cameras

15%

6

Cameras

14%

7

Sound recording or reproducing equipment

——Cassette-type recorders, incorporating sound reproducing apparatus

30%

—— Others

20%

——Flash memory type recorders, incorporating sound reproducing apparatus

20%

8

Discs, tapes and solid-state non-volatile storage devices for recording sound or other information

——Cards incorporating a magnetic stripe

——Unrecorded

17.5%

——Recorded

15%

——Magnetic discs

0%

——Magnetic tapes

0%

For reproducing sound or image phenomena

10%

——Solid-state non-volatile storage devices

0%

——Smart cards

0%

Note: For the importation of the above equipment, value added tax and consumption tax may also be leviable in addition to the tariff. Therefore, when calculating the amount of the security as may be required, the Customs must also take into consideration other related taxes, charges and fees.







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STATEMENT

General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China

Address: No.6. Jianguomennei Avenue, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China        Postcode: 100730