Agreement between the European Community and Hong Kong, China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters
18. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 151/21 between the European Community and Hong Kong, China on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters AGREEMENT The EUROPEAN COMMUNITY and HONG KONG, CHINA (1) (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Contracting Parties'), CONSIDERING the importance of the commercial links between the European Community and Hong Kong, China and desirous of contributing, to the benefit of both Contracting Parties, to the harmonious development of those links; BELIEVING THAT, in order to attain this objective, there should be an undertaking to develop customs cooperation; TAKING into account the development of customs cooperation between the Contracting Parties, concerning customs procedures; CONSIDERING that operations in breach of customs legislation are prejudicial to the economic, fiscal and commercial interests of both Contracting Parties, and recognising the importance of ensuring the accurate assessment of customs duties and other taxes; CONVINCED that action against such operations can be made more effective by cooperation between their competent administrative authorities; HAVING regard to obligations imposed under international conventions already accepted by, or applied to the Contracting Parties; and having regard also to the recommendation of the Customs Cooperation Council on mutual administrative assistance of 5 December 1953, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1 Definitions For the purposes of this Agreement: (a) ‘customs legislation' shall mean any laws, regulations or other legally binding instruments of the European Community or Hong Kong, China governing the import, export and transit of goods and their placing under regime or procedure, including measures of prohibition, restriction and control falling under the competence of the customs authorities and other administrative authorities; any other customs (b) ‘customs authority' in the European shall mean, Community, the competent services of the Commis- sion of the European Communities and the customs authorities of the European the Member States of Community, and in Hong Kong, China, the Customs and Excise Department; (c) ‘applicant authority' shall mean a competent adminis- trative authority which has been designated by a (1) In accordance with Article 151 of the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China. Contracting Party for this purpose and which makes a request for assistance on the basis of this Agreement; (d) ‘requested authority' shall mean a competent adminis- trative authority which has been designated by a Contracting Party for this purpose and which receives a request for assistance, on the basis of this Agree- ment; (e) ‘personal data' shall mean all information relating to an identified or identifiable human being; (f) ‘operation in breach of customs legislation' shall mean any violation or attempted violation of the customs legislation; (g) ‘person' shall mean either a human being or a legal entity. Article 2 Territorial application This Agreement shall apply, on the one hand, to the territories in which the Treaty establishing the European Community is applied and under the conditions laid down in that Treaty and, on the other hand, to Hong Kong, China. L 151/22 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 18. 6. 1999 Article 3 Future developments The Contracting Parties may by mutual consent expand this Agreement with a view to increasing and supple- menting customs cooperation, in accordance with their respective customs legislation, by means of agreements on specific sectors or matters. Article 4 Scope of the cooperation customs 1. The customs cooperation. Parties shall seek to cooperate in: authorities undertake In particular, to develop the Contracting (a) establishing and maintaining channels of communi- cation between their customs authorities to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of information; (b) facilitating effective customs authorities; coordination between their (c) any other administrative matters related to this Agree- ment that may from time to time require their joint action. 2. Under this Agreement, customs cooperation shall cover all matters relating to the application of customs legislation. (a) not affect the obligations of the Contracting Parties under any other international agreement or conven- tion, (b) be deemed complementary with agreements on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assis- tance which have been or may be concluded between individual Member States and Hong Kong, China, and (c) not affect the Community provisions governing the communication between the competent services of the Commission and the customs authorities of the Member States of any information obtained under this to the Agreement which could be of Community. interest 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, the provisions of this Agreement shall take precedence over the provisions of any bilateral agreement on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance which has been or may be concluded between individual Member States and Hong Kong, China insofar as the provisions of the latter are incompatible with those of this Agreement. 3. In respect of questions relating to the applicability of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall consult each other to resolve the matter in the framework of the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee set up under Article 21 of this Agreement. Article 5 Scope of assistance TITLE II CUSTOMS COOPERATION 1. The Contracting Parties shall assist each other, in the areas within their competence and within the limits of available resources, and in the manner and under the conditions laid down in this Agreement, to ensure the correct application of customs legislation, in particular by preventing, investigating and combating operations in breach of that legislation. 2. Assistance in customs matters under this Agreement shall be provided between the customs and other administrative authorities of the Contracting Parties which are competent for the application of this Agree- ment. It shall not prejudice the rules governing mutual assistance in criminal matters. Nor shall it cover informa- tion obtained under powers exercised at the request of a judicial authority. 3. Assistance to recover duties, taxes or fines is not covered by this Agreement. Article 7 Cooperation in customs procedures The Contracting Parties affirm their commitment to the facilitation of the legitimate movement of goods and shall to exchange information and expertise on measures improve customs techniques and procedures and on computerised systems with a view towards implementing that commitment in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Article 8 Technical assistance Article 6 Obligations imposed under other agreements 1. Taking into account the respective competences of the European Community and the Member States, the provisions of this Agreement shall: 1. The customs authorities may provide technical assis- tance to each other and exchange personnel when mutu- ally beneficial, and according to the availability of resources, for the purpose of advancing their under- standing of each other’s customs techniques, procedures and computerised systems. 18. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 151/23 2. They may also, when appropriate, exchange informa- tion about technical assistance to any other customs administrations. Article 9 Discussions in international organisations shall The customs authorities seek to develop and strengthen their cooperation on topics of common interest with a view to facilitating discussions on customs matters in the framework of international organisations, such as the Customs Cooperation Council. TITLE III MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE Article 10 Assistance on request the request of the applicant authority, the 1. At requested authority shall provide it with all relevant infor- mation which may enable it to ensure that customs legis- lation is information regarding activities detected or planned which are or could be operations in breach of customs legislation. including correctly applied, 2. At requested authority shall inform it: the request of the applicant authority, the (a) whether goods exported from one of the Contracting Parties have been properly imported into the other, specifying, where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to the goods; (b) whether goods imported into one of the Contracting Parties have been properly exported from the other, specifying, where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to the goods. the request of 3. At the requested authority shall, within the framework of its laws, regulations or other legally binding instruments, take the necessary steps to ensure special surveillance of: the applicant authority, (a) persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are or have been involved in operations in breach of customs legisla- tion; (b) places where stocks of goods have been or may be assembled in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that these goods are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation; (c) goods that are or may be transported in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation; (d) means of transport that are or may be used in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in operations in breach of customs legislation. Article 11 Spontaneous assistance The Contracting Parties shall assist each other, at their own initiative and in accordance with their laws, regula- tions or other they consider that to be necessary for the correct application of customs legislation, particularly by providing information obtained pertaining to: legally binding instruments, if (a) activities which are or appear to be operations in breach of customs legislation and which may be of interest to the other Contracting Party; (b) new means or methods employed in carrying out operations in breach of customs legislation; (c) goods known to be subject to operations in breach of customs legislation; (d) persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are or have been involved in operations in breach of customs legisla- tion; (e) means of transport in respect of which there are reasonable grounds for believing that they have been, are, or may be used in operations in breach of customs legislation. Article 12 Delivery, notification the request of the 1. At requested authority shall, in accordance with laws, regula- tions or other legally binding instruments applicable to the latter, take all necessary measures in order: the applicant authority, (a) to deliver any documents of an administrative nature, or (b) to notify any decisions, emanating from the applicant authority and falling within the scope of this Agreement, to an addressee residing or established in the jurisdiction of the requested authority. 2. Requests for delivery of documents or notification of decisions shall be made in writing in an official language of the requested authority or in a language acceptable to that authority. This requirement shall not apply to any documents that are to be delivered under paragraph 1. L 151/24 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 18. 6. 1999 Article 13 Form and substance of requests for assistance 1. Requests pursuant to this Agreement shall be made in writing. They shall be accompanied by the documents necessary to enable compliance with the request. When required because of the urgency of the situation, oral requests may be accepted, but must be confirmed in writing immediately. 2. Requests pursuant to paragraph 1 shall include the following information: (a) the applicant authority; (b) the action requested; applicant authority needs for the purposes of this Agree- ment. 4. Duly authorised officials of a Contracting Party may, with the agreement of the other Contracting Party and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, be present at enquiries carried out in the latter’s jurisdiction into specific cases. In the event that the request cannot be complied 5. with, the applicant authority shall be notified promptly of that fact, with a statement of the reasons and of any other information that the requested authority considers may be of assistance to the applicant authority. Article 15 (c) the object of and the reason for the request; Form in which information is to be communicated (d) the laws, regulations or other legally binding instru- ments involved; (e) indications as exact and comprehensive as possible on the persons who are the target of the investigations; (f) a summary of the relevant facts and of the enquiries already carried out. 3. Requests shall be submitted in an official language of the requested authority or in a language acceptable to that authority. This requirement shall not apply to any docu- ments that accompany the request under paragraph 1. If a request does not meet the formal requirements 4. set out above, its correction or completion may be requested; precautionary measures may be taken in the meantime. Article 14 Execution of requests In order to comply with a request for assistance, the 1. requested authority shall proceed, within the limits of its competence and available resources, as though it were acting on its own account or at the request of other authorities of that same Contracting Party, by supplying information already possessed, by carrying out appropriate enquiries or by arranging for them to be carried out. This provision shall also apply to any other authority to which the request has been addressed in accordance with this Agreement by the requested authority when the latter cannot act on its own. 2. Requests for assistance shall be executed in accord- ance with the laws, regulations or other legally binding instruments of the requested Contracting Party. 3. Duly authorised officials of a Contracting Party may, with the agreement of the other Contracting Party and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, be present to obtain in the offices of the requested authority or any other concerned authority in accordance with para- graph 1, information relating to activities that are or may be operations in breach of customs legislation which the 1. The requested authority shall communicate results of enquiries to the applicant authority in writing together with relevant documents, certified copies or other items. 2. This information may be in computerised form. 3. Original files and documents shall be transmitted only upon request in cases where certified copies would be insufficient. These originals shall be returned at the earliest opportunity. The rights of the requested authority or of third parties relating to the originals shall remain unaffected. Article 16 Exceptions to the obligation to provide assistance 1. Assistance may be refused or may be subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions or requirements, in cases where a Party is of the opinion that assistance under this Agreement would: (a) be likely to prejudice the vital interests of Hong Kong, China or those of a Member State which has been requested to provide assistance under this Agree- ment; or (b) be likely to prejudice public order, security or other in particular those referred to essential principles, under Article 17(2); or (c) violate an industrial, commercial or professional secret. 2. Assistance may be postponed by the requested authority on the ground that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, prosecution or proceeding. In such a case, the requested authority shall consult with the applicant authority to determine if assistance can be given subject to such terms or conditions as the requested authority may require. 3. Where the applicant authority seeks assistance which it would itself be unable to provide if so requested, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. It shall then be for the requested authority to decide how to respond to such a request. 18. 6. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 151/25 4. For the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the decision of the requested authority and the reasons therefor must be communicated to the applicant authority without undue delay. 5. Practical arrangements for the implementation of this Article shall be determined by the Joint Customs Cooperation Committee established under Article 21. Article 17 Information exchange and confidentiality 1. Any information communicated in whatsoever form pursuant to this Agreement shall be of a confidential or restricted nature, depending on the rules applicable in each of the Contracting Parties. It shall be covered by the obligation of official secrecy and shall enjoy the protec- tion extended to similar information under the relevant laws of the Contracting Party that received it and the corresponding provisions applying to the Community authorities. 2. Personal data may be exchanged only where the Contracting Party which may receive it undertakes to protect such data in at least an equivalent way to the one applicable to that particular case in the Contracting Party that may supply it. The Contracting Party that may supply the information shall not stipulate any require- ments that are more onerous than those applicable to it in its own jurisdiction. Contracting Parties shall communicate to each other information on their applicable rules, including, where appropriate, legal provisions in force in the Member States of the Community. 3. Nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the use of information or documents obtained in accordance with this Agreement as evidence in proceedings or charges subsequently instituted before the courts or tribunals in respect of operations in breach of customs legislation. Therefore, the Contracting Parties may, in their records of evidence, reports and testimonies and in proceedings and charges which may subsequently be brought before the courts or tribunals, use as evidence information obtained and documents consulted in accordance with the provi- sions of this Agreement. The competent authority which supplied that information or gave access to those docu- ments shall be notified of such use. this Agreement. Where one of Information obtained shall be used solely for the 4. purposes of the Contracting Parties wishes to use such information for other purposes, it shall obtain the prior written consent of the authority which provided the information. Such use shall then be subject to any restrictions laid down by that authority. Article 18 Experts and witnesses An official of a requested authority may be authorised to appear, within the limitations of the authorisation granted, as an expert or witness before an authority in the other Contracting Party regarding the matters covered by this Agreement, and produce such objects, documents or certified copies thereof as may be needed for this purpose. The request indicate specifically before which authority the official will have to appear, on what matters and by virtue of what title or qualification the official will be questioned. for appearance must Article 19 Assistance expenses for The Contracting Parties shall waive all claims on each other incurred the reimbursement of expenses pursuant to this Agreement, except, as appropriate, for expenses payable to experts and witnesses, and those to interpreters and translators who are not public service employees. TITLE IV FINAL PROVISIONS Article 20 Implementation 1. The implementation of this Agreement shall be entrusted on the one hand to the competent services of the Commission of the European Communities and, where appropriate, the customs authorities of the Member States of the European Community and on the other hand to the Customs and Excise Department of Hong Kong, China. They shall decide on all practical measures and arrangements necessary for its application, taking into consideration the rules in force in particular in the field of data protection. They may recommend to the competent bodies amendments which they consider should be made to this Agreement. 2. The Contracting Parties shall consult each other and subsequently keep each other informed of the detailed rules of implementation which are adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. L 151/26 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 18. 6. 1999 Article 21 Article 22 Joint Customs Cooperation Committee 1. A Joint Customs Cooperation Committee is hereby established, consisting of representatives of the European Community and of Hong Kong, China. It shall meet at a place, on a date and with an agenda, fixed by mutual agreement. 2. The Joint Customs Cooperation Committee shall see to the proper functioning of the Agreement and shall examine all issues arising from its application. In fulfil- ling this role, its main functions will be to: (a) review the progress of the customs cooperation in accordance with this Agreement and identify new areas and specific sectors for further customs coopera- tion; (b) exchange views on any points of common interest including future regarding customs measures and the resources for them; and cooperation, (c) in general recommend solutions aimed at helping to attain the objectives of this Agreement. terms, 3. The Joint Customs Cooperation Committee shall adopt its internal rules of procedure. Entry into force and duration 1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day the month following the date on which the of Contracting Parties have notified each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose. 2. Each Contracting Party may terminate this Agree- ment by giving notice to the other in writing. The termination shall take effect three months from the date of notification to the other Contracting Party. Requests for assistance which have been received prior to the termination of the Agreement shall be completed in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Article 23 Authentic texts This Agreement shall be drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish and Chinese languages, each text being equally authentic. Spanish, In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised to do so, have signed this Agreement. Done at Hong Kong, China on the thirteenth day of May in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine. For the European Community For Hong Kong, China