On the Customs Procedure for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Overseas Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry

In order to simplify the procedures of entry and exit of reporting equipment carried by foreign journalists who have come to China to report without invitation and by Macao and Hong Kong journalists who have come to the mainland for reporting purpose (hereinafter referred to collectively as “journalists”), and facilitate the timely refund of the security they have deposited for their reporting equipment, the procedure for refund of security for reporting equipment of journalists at places other than the place of entry is hereby announced as follows:

First, where a journalist has brought with him/her reporting equipment when entering the Chinese mainland, after he/she has deposited a security (in cash or cash cheque in RMB) equivalent to the amount of the duties and taxes payable in accordance with the relevant provisions and gone through the entry formalities for the reporting equipment, if he/she is to leave the Chinese mainland via a port other than the place of entry, and needs to claim the refund at the Customs at the place of exit, he/she shall, in entering the Chinese mainland, obtain from the Customs at the place of entry an Application Form for Refund of Security for Reporting Equipment of Journalists at Places Other Than the Place of Entry (see format in Annex 1; hereinafter referred to as the Application Form), fill out the form, and keep it properly together with the Customs envelope issued and sealed by the Customs at the place of entry for use at the place of exit to go through the relevant formalities there.

Second, 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 2 for contact persons, telephone and fax numbers) and then make confirmation.

Third, when a journalist carries his/her reporting equipment out of the Chinese mainland, he/she shall submit to the Customs at the place of exit the Application Form and the Customs envelope issued and sealed by the Customs at the place of entry. Once the Customs at the place of exit has confirmed the re-exportation of all the reporting equipment, an amount in cash or cash cheque in RMB which equals the amount deposited at the place of entry will be refunded. 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.

Fourth, 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.

Fifth, this Announcement shall become effective as of October 1, 2009. Where there is any discrepancy between this Announcement and the third article of Announcement No. 104, 2008 or between this Announcement and the third article of Announcement No. 19, 2009, this Announcement prevails.

(All information in this document is authentic in Chinese. English is provided for reference only. In case of any discrepancy, the Chinese version shall prevail.)

Annexes:

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

2. Contact Persons and Telephone Numbers for Refund of Security at Places Other Than the Place of Entry

General Administration of Customs

September 3, 2009