Directive No. 764/TTg on clearing surplus goods stored in warehouses at Hai Phong Port and Saigon Port

DIRECTIVE

OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the clearance of surplus goods stored in warehouses at Hai Phong Port and Saigon Port

The situation of export and import goods in containers accumulating at seaports, particularly at Hai Phong and Saigon ports, has had adverse effects on circulation, production, consumption, and state revenue.

To address this situation, to quickly bring goods into service for production and consumption, ensure state revenue, balance payments, facilitate export and import trade, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. In the immediate term, starting from November 1995, allow the transportation of goods in 20", 40" containers by specialized trucks without reducing load from Hai Phong Port and Saigon Port via road to private enterprises' warehouses or inland dry ports to complete customs procedures and expedite the release of goods.

2. The Ministry of Transport shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Finance, and People's Committees of localities with container traffic to guide and specify routes and times (avoiding peak hours) for container-carrying vehicles to operate on roads and within cities, set fee levels for specialized vehicles carrying containers on roads to supplement funding for road maintenance and repair; coordinate with the General Customs Department to promptly establish inland dry ports in Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Ho Chi Minh City to handle customs procedures for containerized cargo. The Ministry of Transport must urgently prepare infrastructure, equipment, means of transport, storage facilities to ensure the reception, transportation of containers by rail and river from port areas to consignees' warehouses, while preparing to gradually reduce long-distance road transportation of containers.

3. The Ministry of Home Affairs shall be responsible for organizing implementation and inspecting compliance with traffic laws and safety regulations as stipulated.

4. People's Committees of provinces and cities with seaports and national highways passing through shall be responsible for coordinating with relevant agencies to create favorable conditions for the loading, unloading, transportation of goods, and customs inspection to proceed smoothly and quickly; strictly prohibit the establishment of unauthorized checkpoints that cause congestion and delay in cargo transportation.

5. The General Customs Department shall be responsible for directing customs offices in provinces and cities to cooperate with related sectors to arrange continuous work shifts day and night to quickly clear surplus goods at ports, while intensifying inspections and re-inspections to combat smuggling, commercial fraud, tax evasion, and increase state revenue.

Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, and provincial-level People's Committee Chairmen directly under the Central Government are responsible for implementing this Directive.