Online Interview
Topic: Support for Hengqin New Area Opening-up and Development to Promote Guangdong's Economic Integration with Hong Kong and Macao SARs
Time:10:00 AM (Wed) March 26, 2014
Special Guests:Guests: Xiong Zhenguo, Deputy Director General of Gongbei Customs District; Wu Yirong, Director of Hengqin Customs House, Gongbei Customs District; Zhou Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the Processing-Trade Supervision Division, Gongbei Customs District;
Online Interview Photos
Support for Hengqin New Area Opening-up and Development to Promote Guangdong's Economic Integration with Hong Kong and Macao SARs
[Wang Hua]: Zhuhai is adjacent to Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. In terms of supporting the social and economic development in Hong Kong SAR, what measures do Gongbei Customs take? 03/21/2014 10:41:40
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Gongbei Customs have made efforts to support the social and economic development and daily life of residents in Hong Kong SAR. For example, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is a key project listed in the national “12th Five-Year” plan. The bridge will be completed in 2016, and as a result, Zhuhai will become the only city in the mainland of China connected with Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR. The tie among Guangdong Province, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR will get closer and a new pattern of big port, busy customs clearance and logistics will take shape. 03/21/2014 10:42:10
[Xiong Zhenguo]: At present, nearly 30 million tons of sea sand is exported through supervision by Gongbei Customs. The sand is used for reclamation of the artificial island in Hong Kong port. It’s one part of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project. Now 5.48 million tons of sand has been exported. Because of the tight schedule, in order to guarantee the smooth progress of the key project, Gongbei Customs have taken some measures such as centralized declaration and supervision over out-going to ensure the normal customs clearance of sea sand during 24 hours. 03/21/2014 10:42:35
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Another example: a large amount of aquatic products imported from the mainland of China to Hong Kong SAR are exported through Gongbei Customs. In 2013, Gongbei Customs inspected and released 9,244 tons of various aquatic products such as iced fish and live shrimps to Hong Kong SAR with an average of 25 tons per day. 03/21/2014 10:42:50
[Xiong Zhenguo]: Gongbei Customs open the “green channel with “three priorities” for fresh and live aquatic products to Hong Kong SAR, “giving priority in receiving declaration documents, examining, inspecting and releasing”. As a result, enterprises can reduce about 130 kilometers of transportation mileage in a round trip and nearly three hours of transportation and save almost RMB 600 per vehicle in transportation costs. Such practice improves the efficiency of customs clearance for live fish significantly and ensures that pond fish is fresh to the maximum degree so that Hong Kong citizens can have fresh aquatic products timely. 03/21/2014 10:43:39
[Wang Hua]: Well, thank you for your excellent introduction. Now let’s look at questions from netizens. 03/21/2014 10:44:39
[Netizen: Pengzai]: I heard that Macaovehicles with single license plate will be permitted to enter and exit Hengqin. When will they be permitted to enter Hengqin and what are regulations and requirements for such entrance? 03/21/2014 10:14:29
[Xiong Zhenguo]: In accordance with the overall development plan of Hengqin, means of transport with Macao license plate are permitted to enter and exit Hengqin from Macao SAR, but they are restricted to travel within Hengqin New Area. For Macao vehicles with single license plate that come into or out of China via Hengqin, the State Council authorized Guangdong Provincial Government to sign the relevant agreement with the Government of Macao SAR, and the Customs conduct supervision over them, which are only permitted to travel within Hengqin New Area after they enter the mainland of China through Hengqin. It is understood that at present no agreements have been signed between Guangdong Province and the Government of Macao SAR. For specific information, the enterprises may follow up the related briefings issued by Guangdong Provincial Government and the Government of Macao SAR. 03/21/2014 10:45:31
[Netizen: Luoluo]: I’m working for a private hi-tech enterprise and our products are mainly exported to foreign countries. Our raw materials are purchased in China and abroad respectively. Now if a factory is set up in an export processing area or bonded zone, domestic raw materials are granted with export tax refund when entering the export processing area or bonded zone, but the Customs must examine and verify export licenses. If I set up a factory in Hengqin, are there any preferential policies? 03/21/2014 10:15:45
[Zhou Xiaolei]: In accordance with Paragraph 2 of Article 15 in GACC Decree No. 209, “With respect to goods transported to Hengqin from outside the New Area for completion of declaration formalities, no export quota and licenses management is required for them”. This is one of significant features that Hengqin New Area is different from special customs-controlled areas in the license management. Meanwhile, it is stated in Paragraph 1 of Article 10 of GACC No. 209 that “unless otherwise specified in laws, administrative rules and regulations, for goods entering Hengqin from overseas under registration management, no export quotas and licenses management are required for them”. Therefore, where an enterprise set up a factory in Hengqin, whether its raw materials are purchased in China or abroad, when they enter Hengqin New Area for completion of declaration formalities, the Customs do not examine and verify import and export licenses. 03/21/2014 10:46:33