[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 108 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30927-30928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14662]


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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.

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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for merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption on 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