Country of Origin Marking of Products of Hong Kong

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

[T.D. 97-47]

Country of Origin Marking of Products of Hong Kong

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of Policy.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document notifies the public that, with respect to

imported goods produced in Hong Kong after the reversion of that region

to China on July 1, 1997, the proper country of origin marking for such

goods will continue to be ``Hong Kong.''

EFFECTIVE DATE: The position set forth in this document is effective

for merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on

or after July 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Craig Walker, Special Classification

and Marking Branch (202) 482-6980.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

Section 304 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1304),

provides that, unless excepted, every article of foreign origin (or its

container) imported into the U.S. shall be marked in a conspicuous

place as legibly, indelibly, and permanently as the nature of the

article (or its container) will permit, in such a manner as to indicate

to the ultimate purchaser in the U.S. the English name of the country

of origin of the article. Failure to mark an article in accordance with

the requirements of 19 U.S.C. 1304 shall result in the levy of a duty

of ten percent ad valorem. Part 134, Customs Regulations (19 CFR Part

134), implements the country of origin marking requirements and

exceptions of 19 U.S.C. 1304.

Pursuant to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed in 1984, the

People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over

Hong Kong on July 1, 1997. With respect to goods produced in Hong Kong

while under the sovereignty of Great Britain, the Customs Service has

taken the position that such goods should properly be marked to

indicate that their origin is ``Hong Kong.''

It has been determined that no change in the current practice

regarding the country of origin marking of goods produced in Hong Kong

should be made as a result of the reversion of that region's

sovereignty to China. Therefore, this document notifies the public

that, unless excepted from marking, goods

[[Page 30928]]

produced in Hong Kong which are entered or withdrawn from warehouse for

consumption into the U.S. on or after July 1, 1997, shall continue to

be marked to indicate that their origin is ``Hong Kong.''

Dated: May 29, 1997.

Stuart P. Seidel,

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulations and Rulings.

[FR Doc. 97-14662 Filed 6-4-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820-02-P