HONG KONG STARTS ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF MANIFESTS

HONG KONG STARTS ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION OF MANIFESTS    Hong Kong has started a system allowing electronic submission of cargo manifests to the authorities for transport modes other than road.
   Air, ocean, river and rail mode carriers can now submit cargo manifests through the Tradelink Electronic Commerce system to the region’s Customs and Excise Department and other government bodies in one go.
   These carriers can also use the service to receive detention notices and release vouchers issued by the Customs and Excise Department, submit import and export statements for dutiable commodities, and reply to queries from the Hong Kong special administrative region’s government.
   “This is also a step towards wider application of electronic commerce, which is essential for the local trading community and Hong Kong to remain competitive,” a spokesman for Hong Kong’s commerce, industry and technology bureau said.
   To allow the industry time to adapt to the changes, the Hong Kong government will observe a transitional period during which both paper and electronic cargo manifests will be accepted.