(Adopted at the 19th Meeting of the Standing                        Committee of the Sixth National People's Congress on January                        22, 1987,Promulgated by Order No. 51 of the President of                        the People's Republic of China on January 22, 1987, and                        effective as of July 1, 1987)
 
Contents
Chapter I                        General Provisions
Chapter II                        Inward and Outward Means of Transport
Chapter III                        Inward and Outward Goods 
Chapter IV                        Inward and Outward Articles
Chapter V                        Customs Duties
Chapter VI                        Legal Responsibility
Chapter VII                        Supplementary Provisions
 
Chapter I                        General Provisions
Article 1 This                        Law is formulated for the purpose of safeguarding state                        sovereignty and interests, strengthening supervision and                        control by the Customs, promoting exchanges with foreign                        countries in economic affairs, trade, science, technology                        and culture, and ensuring socialist modernization.
Article 2 The Customs                        of the People's Republic of China shall be the state organ                        responsible for supervision and control over everything                        entering and leaving the Customs territory (hereinafter                        referred to as inward and outward persons and objects).                        The Customs shall, in accordance with this Law and other                        related laws and regulations, exercise supervision and control                        over the means of transport, goods, travellers' luggage,                        postal items and other articles entering or leaving the                        territory (hereinafter referred to as inward and outward                        means of transport, goods and articles), collect Customs                        duties and other taxes and fees, uncover and suppress smuggling,                        work out customs statistics and handle other Customs operations.
Article 3 The State Council                        shall set up the General Customs Administration which shall                        exercise unified administration of Customs establishment                        throughout the country.
The State shall set up Customs                        establishments at ports open to foreign countries and regions                        and at places which call for concentrated Customs operations                        of supervision and control. The subordination of one Customs                        establishment to another shall not be restricted by administrative                        divisions.
Customs establishments shall                        exercise their functions and powers independently in accordance                        with the law, and shall be responsible to the General Customs                        Administration.
Article 4 A Customs establishment                        shall exercise the following powers:
(1) To check inward and outward                        means of transport and examine inward and outward goods                        and articles: to detain those entering or leaving the territory                        in violation of this Law or other relevant laws and regulations.
(2) To examine the papers and                        identifications of persons entering or leaving the territory;                        to interrogate those suspected of violating this Law or                        other relevant laws and regulations, and investigate their                        illegal activities;
(3) To examine and make copies                        of contracts, invoices, book accounts, bills, records, documents,                        business letters and cables, audio and video products and                        other materials related to the inward and outward means                        of transport, goods and articles; to detain those related                        to the means or other relevant laws and regulations;
(4) To search, within a Customs                        surveillance zone and the specified coastal or border area                        in the vicinity of a Customs establishment, means of transport                        suspected of involvement in smuggling, and storage places                        suspected of concealing smuggled goods and articles, and                        to search persons suspected criminal smuggler may be detained                        and handed over to judicial organ. Such detention shall                        not exceed 24 hours and, under special circumstances, may                        be extended to 48 hours.
The scope of the specified coastal                        or border area in the vicinity of a Customs establishment                        shall be defined by the General Customs Administration and                        the public security department under the State Council in                        conjunction with the relevant provincial people's governments;
(5) Customs officers may chase                        means of transport or persons defying and escaping from                        Customs supervision an control to places beyond a customs                        surveillance zone or the specified coastal or border area                        in the vicinity of a Customs establishment and bring them                        back to be properly dealt with; and 
(6) A Customs establishment may                        be provided with arms for the performance of its duties.                        Rules governing the carrying and use of arms by Customs                        officers shall be drawn up by the General Customs Administration                        jointly with the public security department under the State                        Council and reported to the State Council for approval.
Article 5 All inward and                        outward means of transport, goods and articles shall enter                        or leave the territory at a place where there is a Customs                        establishment. If, under special circumstances, they have                        to enter or leave the territory at a place without a Customs                        establishment as a matter of contingeney, permission shall                        be obtained from the State Council or an organ authorized                        by the State Council, and Customs formalities shall be duly                        completed in accordance with this Law.
Article 6 Unless otherwise                        provided for, all import and export goods shall be declared                        and duties on them paid by declaration enterprises registered                        with the Customs, or by enterprises entitled to engage in                        import and export business. The persons of these enterprises                        in charge of the declaration shall be evaluated and approved                        by the Customs.
The Customs formalities concerning                        declaration of inward and outward articles and payment of                        duties on them may be completed either by the owner or by                        a person the owner has entrusted to act as his agent.
The agent entrusted to complete                        the declaration formalities shall abide by all provisions                        of this Law applicable to the owner.
Article 7 Customs personnel                        shall abide by the laws and regulations, enforce the law                        impartially, be devoted to their duties and render services                        in a civilized manner.
No unit or individual may obstruct                        the Customs from performing its duties according to law.
Where a Customs of officer meets                        with resistance while carrying out his duties, the public                        security organ and the People's Armed Police units performing                        related tasks shall provide assistance.
 
Chapter II                        Inward and Outward Means of Transport
Article 8 When a means                        of transport arrives at or departs from a place where there                        is a Customs establishment, the person in charge of the                        means of transport shall make a truthful declaration to                        the Customs, submit the relevant papers for examination                        and accept Customs control and examination.
The inward and outward means                        of transport staying at a place with a Customs establishment                        shall not depart from it without prior permission by the                        Customs.
Before an inward or outward means                        of transport moves from one place with a Customs establishment                        to another place with a Customs establishment, it shall                        comply with the control requirements of the Customs and                        complete Customs formalities; no means of transport shall                        be allowed to change its course and leave the territory                        unless it has cleared the Customs.
Article 9 An inward means                        of transport which has entered the territory but has not                        made its declaration to the Customs or an outward means                        of transport which has cleared the Customs but has not left                        the territory shall move along routes specified by competent                        communications authories; in the absence of such specification,                        the routes shall be designated by the Customs.
Article 10 The Customs                        shall be notified in advance, either by the person in charge                        of a means of transport or by the relevant transport and                        communications department, of such details as when an inward                        or outward vessel, train or aircraft will arrive and depart,                        where it will stay, what places it will move to during its                        stay, and when the loading or unloading of the goods and                        articities will take place.
Article 11 The inward                        or outward goods and articles being loaded on or unloaded                        from a means of transport and the inward and outward passengers                        boarding or getting off a means of transport shall be subject                        to Customs control.
Upon the completion of such loading                        or unloading, the person in charge of the means of transport                        shall submit to the Customs documents and records which                        reflect the actual situation of the toading and unloading.
Those boarding or getting off                        an inward or outward means of transport who carry articles                        with them shall truthfully declare to the Customs and shall                        be subject to Customs examination.
Article 12 When an inward                        or outward means of transport is being checked by the Customs,                        the person in charge of the means of transport shall be                        present and open the holds, cabins, rooms or doors of the                        vehicles at the request of the Customs; where smuggling                        is suspected, such person shall also open or dismantle the                        part of the means of transport which may conceal smuggled                        goods and articles or remove the goods and materials. In                        accordance with work requirements, the Customs may dispatch                        officers to perform duties on board the means of transport.                        The person in charge of the means of transport shall provide                        them with conveniences.
Article 13 An inward means                        of transport of countries or regions outside the territory                        or an outward means of transport of units or enterprises                        inside the territory shall not be transferred or devoted                        to other uses prior to the completion of Customs formalities                        and payment of Customs duties.
Article 14 Where inward                        or outward vessels and aircraft are concurrently engaged                        in transportation of goods and passengers within the territory,                        Customs approval shall be obtained and requirements for                        Customs control shall be fulfilled.
Customs formalities shall be                        completed with the Customs for an inward or outward means                        of transport to change to transport business within the                        territory.
Article 15 Coastal transport                        vessels, fishing boats and ships engaged in special operation                        at sea may not carry, obtain on an exchange basis, purchase                        or transfer inward and outward goods and articles without                        Customs approval.
Article 16 When, owing                        to force majeure, an inward or outward vessel or aircraft                        is forced to berth, land or jettison and discharge goods                        and articles at a place without a Customs establishment,                        the person in charge of the means of transport shall report                        immediately to the Customs establishment nearby.
 
Chapter III                        Inward and Outward Goods
Article 17 All import                        goods, throughout the period from the time of arrival in                        the territory to the time of Customs clearance; all export                        goods, throughout the period from the time of declaration                        to the time of departure from the territory, shall be subject                        to Customs control.
Article 18 The consignee                        for import goods and the consignor for export goods shall                        make an accurate declaration and submit the import or export                        licensee and relevant papers to the Customs for examination.                        In the absence of import or export license, goods whose                        importation or exportation is restricted by the State Council                        Declaration of import goods should be made to the State                        shall not be released. Specific measures for handling such                        matters shall be enacted by the Customs by the consignee                        within 14 days of the declaration of the arrival of the                        means of transport; declaration of export goods shall be                        made by the consignor 24 hours prior to loading unless otherwise                        specially approved by the Customs.
Where the consignee fails to                        declare the import goods within the time limit prescribed                        in the preceding paragraph, a fee for delayed declaration                        shall be imposed by the Customs.
Article 19 All imports                        and export goods shall be subject to Customs examination.                        While the axamination is being carried out, the consignee                        for the import goods or the consignor for the export goods                        shall be present and be responsible for moving the goods                        and opening and restoring the package. The Customs shall                        be entitled to examine or reexamine the goods or take samples                        from them without the presence of the consignee or the consignor                        whenever it considers this necessary.
Import and export goods may be                        exempted from examination if an application has been made                        by the consignee or consignor and approved by the General                        Customs Administration.
Article 20 Unless specially                        approved by the Customs, import and export goods shall be                        released upon Customs endorsement only after the payment                        of duties or the provision of a guarantee.
Article 21 Where the consignee                        fails to declare the import goods to the Customs within                        three months of the declaration of the arrival of the means                        of transport, the goods shall be taken over and sold off                        by the Customs. After the costs of transport, loading and                        unloading and storage and the duties and taxes are deducted                        from the money obtained from the sale, the remaining sum,                        if any, shall be returned to the consignee provided he submits                        an application to the Customs within one year of the sale                        of the goods; if nobody applies within the time limit the                        money shall be turned over to the State Treasury. Inward                        goods confirmed by the Customs to be misdischarged or over                        discharged may be returned to the place of consignment or                        imported upon completion of necessary formalities by the                        person in charge of the means of transport carrying the                        goods or the consignee or the consignor for the goods within                        three months of the discharging. When neccessary, an extension                        of three months may be granted through Customs approval.                        If the formalities are not completed within the time limit,                        the goods shall be disposed of by the Customs in accordance                        with the provisions laid down in the preceding paragraph.                        Where goods listed in the preceding two paragraphs are not                        suitable for storage over a long period, the customs may,                        according to actual circumstances, dispose of them before                        the time limit is reached.
Import goods declared to be abandoned                        by the consignee or the owner shall be taken over and sold                        off by the Customs. The money thus obtained shall returned                        over to the State Treasury after the costs of transport,                        loading, unloading and storage are deducted.
Article 22 Goods that                        are temporarily imported or exported with the approval of                        the Customs shall be re-shipped out of or into the territory                        with six months. An extension may be granted in special                        circumstances through Customs approval.
 Article 23 The                        operation of the storage, processing and assembling and                        consignment sales of bonded goods shall be approved by and                        registered with the Customs.
Article 24 Customs formalitites                        for import goods shall be completed by the consignee at                        the Customs establishment at the place where the goods enter                        the territory; those for export goods shall be completed                        by the consignor at the Customs establishment where the                        goods depart from the territory.
If applied for by the consignee                        or the consignor and approved by the Customs, Customs formalities                        from import goods may be completed at the place of destination                        where there is a Customs establishment, and those for export                        goods at the place of consignment where there is a Customs                        establishment. The transport of such goods from one place                        with a Customs establishment to another shall comply with                        the control requirements of the Customs. When necessary,                        Customs officers may escort the goods in transportation.                        Where goods enter or leave the territory by electric cables,                        pipelines or other special means of conveyance, the management                        units concerned shall report at regular intervals to the                        designated Customs establishment and complete Customs formalities                        as required.
Article 25 All transit,                        transshipment and through goods shall be truthfully declared                        by the person in charge of the means of transport to the                        Customs establishment at the place where the goods enter                        the territory, and shall be shipped out of the territory                        within the designated time limit. The Customs may examine                        such goods whenever it considers this necessary.
Article 26 Without Customs                        approval, no unit or individual may open, pick up, deliver,                        forward, change, repack, mortgage or transfer goods under                        Customs control or change the identification marks on such                        goods.
Seals affixed by the Customs                        may not be opened or broken by any person without Customs                        authorization.
The managers of warehouses and                        places where goods under Customs control are kept shall                        complete procedures for the receipt and delivery of goods                        in accordance with Customs regulations.
The storage of goods under Customs                        control at a place outside a Customs surveillance zone shall                        be approved by the a Customs and subject to Customs control.
Article 27 The General                        Customs Administration shall draw up, independently or jointly                        with the relevant departments under the State Council, rules                        for control over the salvage of inward and outward containers;                        rules for control over the salvage of inward and outward                        goods and sunken shipis rules for control over inward and                        outward goods involved in small volumes of border transactions                        and other inward and outward goods not specified in this                        Law.
 
Chapter IV                        Inward and Outward Articles 
Article 28 Inward and                        outward luggage carried by individuals and inward and outward                        articles sent by post shall be limited to reasonable quantities                        for personal use and shall be subject to Customs control.
Article 29 All inward                        and outward articles shall be accurately declared to the                        Customs by the owner and shall be subject to Customs examination.
Seals affixed by the Customs                        may not be opened or broken by any person without authorization.
Article 30 The loading,                        unloading, transshipment and transit of inward and outward                        mail bags shall be subject to Customs control, and a covering                        waybill shall be submitted to the Customs by the postal                        enterprise enterprise concerned.
The postal enterprise shall inform                        the Customs in advance of the schedule for the opening and                        sealing of international mail bag. The customs shall promptly                        dispatch officers to supervise checking and examination                        on the spot.
Article 31 Inward and                        outward articles sent by post shall be posted or delivered                        by the Customs.
Article 32 Articles registered                        with and approved by the Customs for temporarily entering                        or leaving the territory duty free, shall be taken out or                        brought into the territory again by the owner. Persons passing                        through the territory may not leave in the territory, without                        Customs approval, the articles they carry with them.
Article 33 In accordance                        with Article 21 of this law, the Customs shall dispose of                        inward and outward articles declared to be abandoned by                        the owner; articles to which no one makes a claim or for                        which Customs formalities are not completed within the time                        limit set by the Customs; and inward postal items which                        can neither be delivered nor be returned.
Article 34 Inward and                        outward articles intended for offical or personal use by                        foreign missions or personnel enjoying diplomatic privileges                        and immunities shall be dealt with in accordance with the                        Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Diplomatic                        Privileges and Immunities.
 
Chapter V                        Customs Duties
Article 35 Unless otherwise                        provided for in this Law, Customs duties shall be levied                        according to the import and export tariff on goods permitted                        to be imported or exported and articles permitted to enter                        or leave the territory. The tariff shall be made known to                        the public.
Article 36 the consignee                        of import goods, the consignor of export goods and the owner                        of inward and outward articles shall be the obligatory Customs                        duty payer.
Article 37 The Customs                        duty payer of import or export goods shall pay the amount                        levied within seven days following the date of issuance                        of the duty memorandum. In case of failure to meet this                        time limit, a fee for delayed payment shall be imposed by                        the Customs. Where the delay excceds three months, the Customs                        may instruct the guarantor to pay the duties or sell off                        the goods to offset the duties. The Customs may inform the                        bank to deduct the amount of duties due from the deposits                        of the guarantor or the obligatory Customs duty payer when                        it considers this necessary.
The payment of duties on inward                        or outward articles shall be made, prior to their release,                        by the obligatory Customs duty payer.
Article 38 The duty-paying                        value of an import item shall be its normal CIF price, which                        shall be approved by the Customs; the duty-paying value                        of an export item shall be its normal FOB price, which shall                        be approved by the Customs, minus the export duty. Where                        it is impossible to ascertain the CIF or FOB price, the                        duty-paying value of an import or export item shall be fixed                        by the Customs. The duty-paying value of an inward or outward                        article shall be fixed by the Customs.
Article 39 Duty reduction                        or exemption shall be granted for import or export goods                        and inward or outward articles listed below:
(1) Advertising items and trade                        samples of no commercial value;
(2) Materials presented free                        of charge by foreign governments or international organizations;
(3) Goods to which damage or                        loss has occurred prior to Customs release;
(4) Articles of a quantity or                        value within the fixed limit;
(5) Other goods and articles                        specified by law as items for duty reduction or exemption;                        and 
(6) Goods and articles specified                        as items for duty reduction or exemption by international                        treaties to which the People's Republic of China is either                        a contracting or an acceding party.
Article 40 Duty reduction                        or exemption may be granted for import and export goods                        of the Special Economic Zones and other specially designated                        areas: for import and export goods of specific enterprises                        such as Chinese-foreign equity joint ventures, Chinese-foreign                        contractual joint ventures and enterprises with exclusive                        foreign investment; for import and export goods devoted                        to specific purposes; and for materials donated for use                        by public welfare undertaking. The State Council shall define                        the scope and formulate the rules for such reduction and                        exemption. The State Council or departments empowered by                        the State Council shall define the scope and formulate the                        rules for duty reduction exemption or involved in small                        volumes of border transactions.
Article 41 All import                        goods and articles for which duty reduction or exemption                        is granted in accordance with the preceding Article shall                        be used only in specific areas and enterprises or for specific                        purposes. They shall not be utilized otherwise unless Customs                        approval is obtained and duties duly paid.
Article 42 Temporary duty                        reduction or exemption not specified in Articles 39 and                        40 of this Law shall be examined and approved by the general                        Customs Administration independently or jointly with the                        financial department under the State Council in accordance                        with the regulations of the State Council.
Article 43 Temportary                        duty exemption shall be granted for goods approved by the                        Customs as temporarity imported or exported items and for                        bonded goods imported by special permission after the consignee                        or the consignor of the goods submits to the Customs a guarantee                        or a deposit of an amount equal to the duties.
Article 44 Where the Customs                        finds that the duties are short-levied or not levied on                        a consignment of import or export goods or on an inward                        or outward article atter its release, the Customs shall                        collect the money payable from the obligatory Customs duty                        payer within one year of the previous duty payment or the                        release of the item. If the short-levied or non-levied duties                        are attributable to the duty payer's violation of the Customs                        regulations, the Customs may collect the unpaid amount from                        him within three years.
Article 45 Where the duties                        are over-levied, the Customs, upon discovery, shall refund                        the money without delay. The duty payer may ask the Customs                        for refunding within one year of the date of duty payment.
Article 46 Where the obligatory                        Customs duty payer is involved in a dispute over duty payment                        with the Customs, he shall first pay the duties and may,                        within 30 days of the issuance of the duty memorandum, apply                        to the Customs in writing for a reconsideration of the case.                        The Customs shall reach a decision within 15 days of the                        receipt of the application. If the obligatory customs duty                        payer refuses to accept the decision, he may apply to the                        General Customs Administration for a reconsideration of                        the case within 15 days of the receipt of the decision.                        If the decision of the General Customs Administration is                        still considered unacceptable by the obligatory customs                        duty payer, he may file a suit in a people's court within                        15 days of the receipt of the decision.
 
Chapter VI                        Legal Responsibility
Article 47 Evasion of                        Customs control in one of the forms listed below shall constitute                        a crime of smuggling: (1) To transport, carry or send by                        post into or out of the territory narcotic drugs, weapons                        or counterfeit currencies which are prohibited by the State                        from being imported or exported; to transport, carry or                        send by post into or out of the territory obscene objects                        for the purpose of profit-making or dissemination; or to                        transport, carry or send by post out of the territory cultural                        relics which are prohibited by the State from being exported;                        (2) To transport, carry or send by post into or out of the                        territory, for the purpose of making a profit, articles                        in relatively large quantities or of a relatively high value                        which are prohibited by the State from being imported or                        exported, but which are not included in Item (1) of this                        Article; and goods or articles in relatively large quantities                        or of a relatively high value whose importation or exportation                        is restricted by the State or which are subject to the collection                        of Customs duties according to law; or (3) To sell, without                        Customs approval and payment of duties, bonded goods imported                        by special permission or goods listed for special duty reduction                        or exemption which are in relatively large quantities or                        of a relatively high value. Any armed smuggling or resistance                        by violence to Customs examination of smuggled goods or                        articles shall constitute a crime of smuggling, whatever                        the quantity or value of the goods or articles involved.                        The criminal punishments imposed by the people's court to                        persons guilty of smuggling include imposing a fine and                        the confiscation of the smuggled goods or articles, of the                        means of transport used for smuggling and of the illegal                        proceeds obtained therefrom. Where an enterprise, an institution                        or a state organ or a public organization is guilty of smuggling,                        the judicial organ shall investigate and determine the criminal                        responsibility of the person or person in charge and the                        person or persons directly answerable for the offence, and                        issue an order to impose a fine on the unit and confiscate                        the smuggled goods or articles, the means of transport used                        for smuggling and the illegal proceeds obtained therefrom.
Article 48 If the smuggled                        goods and articles involved in one of the acts listed under                        Items (2) and (3) of Article 47 of this Law are not large                        in quantity not of high value, or where the carrying or                        sending by post of obscene objects into or out of the territory                        does not yet constitute a crime of smuggling, the Customs                        may, while confiscating the goods, articles or illegal proceeds                        obtained therefrom, concurrenly impose a fine on the person                        or persons concerned.
Article 49 Any of the                        following acts shall be dealt with as a crime of smuggling                        and shall be punishable accordance with the provisions of                        Article 47 of this law:
(1) To purchase directly and                        illegally from a smuggler articles which are prohibited                        by the State from being imported; or to purchase directly                        and illegally from a smuggler other smuggled goods or articles                        in relatively large quantities or of a relatively high value;                        or
(2) To transport, purchase or                        sell on inland or territorial waters articles which are                        prohibited by the State from being imported or exported;                        or to transport, purchase or sell without legal certification                        goods or articles whose importation or exportation is restricted                        by the State and which are in relatively large quantities                        or of a relatively high value. Where an act listed in the                        preceding paragraphs does not yet constitute a crime of                        smuggling, punishment shall be applied in accordance with                        the provisions of Article 48 of this Law.
Article 50 Any individual                        who carries or sends by post articles for personal use into                        or out of the territory in a quantity exceeding the reasonable                        limit and fails to declare them to the Customs shall be                        made to pay the duties and may be fined.
Article 51 A fine may                        be imposed for any of the following acts which violate the                        regulations on Customs control prescribed in this Law: (1)                        For a means of trans port to enter or leave the territory                        at a place without a Customs establishment; (2) To fail                        to inform the Customs of the arrival and departure time                        of a means of transport and the place where it will stay                        or any change of such a place; (3) To fail to declare truthfully                        to the Customs the import or export goods or the transit,                        transshipment and through goods; (4) To fail to accept,                        in accordance with relevant regulations, the checking and                        examination by the Customs of the means of transport, goods                        or articles entering or leaving the territory; (5) For an                        inward or outward means of transport to load or unload inward                        or outward goods or articles or let passengers get on or                        off without Customs approval; (6) For an inward or outward                        means of transport staying at a place with a Customs establishment                        to leave without Customs approval; (7) For an inward or                        outward means of transport en route from one place with                        a Customs establishment to another with a Customs establishment                        to move out of the territory or to a point in the territory                        where there is no Customs establishment without completing                        the clearance formalities and obtaining Customs approval;                        (8) For an inward or outward means of transport to engage                        concurrently in or change to service within the territory                        without Customs approval; (9) For an inward or outward vessel                        or aircraft which, by force majeure, stops or lands at a                        place without a Customs establishment, or jetisons or discharges                        goods or articles in the territory to fail unjustifiably                        to report to the Customs authorities nearby; (10) To open,                        pick up, deliver, forward, change, repack, mortgage or transfer                        goods under Customs control without Customs approval; (11)                        to open or break seals affixed by the Customs without authorization;                        or (12) to violate other provisions specified in this Law                        concerning Customs control so that the Customs cannot exercise                        or has to suspend control over inward and outward means                        of transport, goods or articles.
Article 52 The smuggled                        goods and articles, illegal incomes and means of transport                        used for smuggling which are confiscated and the fines which                        are imposed by order of the people's court shall all be                        turned over to the State Treasury, and so shall be the smuggled                        goods and articles and illegal incomes which are confiscated                        and fines which are inposed by decision of the Customs.                        It is the responsibility of the Customs to handle all smuggled                        goods and articles and the means of transport used for smuggling                        which are confiscated by order of the people's court or                        by decision of the Customs and to turn them over to the                        State Treasury in accordance with the rcgulations of the                        State Council.
Article 53 If the party                        concerned objects to the Customs decision of punishment,                        he may hand in an application for reconsideration of the                        case, either to the Customs establishment making the decision                        or to one at the next highe level within 30 days of the                        receipt of the notification punishment or, in case notification                        is impossible, within 30 days of the public announcement                        of punishment. If the party concerned finds the decision                        reached after reconsideration still unacceptable, he may                        file a suit in a people's court within 30 days of the receipt                        of the decision. The party concerned may also file suit                        directly in people's court within 30 days of the receipt                        of the notification on punishment or within 30 days of the                        public announcement of the punishment. If the party concerned                        refuses to carry out the Customs decision and fails to apply                        for a reconsideration of the case or file a suit in people's                        court within the prescribed time limit, the Customs establishment                        making the decision of punishment may confiscate the deposit                        of the party concerned or sell off the goods, articles or                        means of transport it has detained to substitute for the                        penalty, or ask the people's court for mandatory execution                        of the decision.
Article 54 If the Customs                        causes damage to any inward goods or articles while examining                        them, it shall make up for the actual loss from such damage.
Article 55 The criminal                        responsibility of any Customs personnel who divide up confiscated                        smuggled goods or article among themselves shall be investigated                        and determined in accordance with Article 155 of the Criminal                        Law of the People's Republic of China. No Customs personnel                        shall be allowed to purchase confiscated smuggled goods                        or articles. Those who have done so shall be made to return                        the goods or articles, and may be given a disciplinary sanction.
Article 56 Any Customs                        personnel who abuse their powers and intentionally create                        difficulties in or procrastinate the control and examination                        process shall be given a disciplinary sanction. Those who                        act illegally for personal gains neglect their duties or                        connive at smuggling shall be given a disciplinary sanction                        or investigated for criminal responsibility in accordance                        with the law, depending on the seriousness of the case.
 
Chapter VII                        Supplementary Provisions
Article 57 Terms used                        in this Law are defined as follows:
The term 'inward and outward                        means of transport' means various types of vessels, vehides,                        aircraft an pack animals which enter or leave the territory                        carrying persons, goods or articles.
The term 'transit, transshipment                        and through goods' means goods which come from a place outside                        the territory and pass through the territory en route to                        a place outside the territory. Among them, 'transit goods'                        are those which pass through the territory by land, 'transshipment                        goods' are those which do not pass through the territory                        by land but are loaded on a different means of transport                        at a place with a Customs establishment, and 'through goods'                        are those which are carried into and out of the territory                        by the same vessel or aircraft.
The term 'goods under Customs                        control' means inport and export goods and transit goods,                        transshipment goods and through goods listed under Article                        17 of this Law, temporarily imported and exported goods,                        bonded goods and other inward and outward goods for which                        Customs formalities have not been completed. The term 'bonded                        goods' means goods which have entered the territory by approval                        of the Customs as items for which no formalities have been                        performed in the way of duty payment and which will be reshipped                        out of the territory after being stored, processed or assembled                        on the territory.
The term 'Customs surveillance                        zone' means any seaport, railway or highway station, airport,                        border pass or international postal matter exchange station                        where there is a Customs establishment, any other place                        where Customs control is exercised, and any place without                        a Customs establishment which has been approved by the State                        Council as a point of entry into and exit from the territory.
Article 58 The Customs,                        shall reward units or individuals for meritorious service                        in providing information or assistance which leads to the                        disscovery and seizure of offenders against this Law. It                        shall keep the identities of such units or individuals strictly                        confidential.
Article 59 The State Council                        shall draw up rules governing control over the means of                        transport, goods and articles going between the Special                        Economic Zones and other specially designated areas and                        other parts of the territory.
Article 60 The General                        Customs Administration shall, pursuant to this Law, formulate                        rules of implementation to be reported to the State Council                        for approval before they come into force.
Article 61 This Law shall                        go into effect as of July 1, 1987. The Provisional Customs                        Law of the People's Republic of China promulgated by the                        Central People's Government on April 18, 1951, shall be                        annulled therefrom.