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The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, announced Tuesday that enterprises and individuals, including foreign-funded companies, who want to engage in retail sales of gold products are required to register with related authorities.
 
An official circular says those that want to sell gold products
 
need to get approval from the central bank's local branches, get a business license from the local administration for industry and commerce, and handle tax registration procedures with the local taxation administration.
 
Auction houses also have to get an approval if they want to 
 
engage in the auction of gold products.
 
The circular was jointly issued Tuesday by the central bank, 
 
the State Economic and Trade Commission, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, and the State Administration of Taxation.
 
The circular allows the opening of chain stores and outlets of 
 
enterprises engaged in retail sales of gold products. But these 
 
enterprises must purchase from officially designated suppliers.
 
The central bank announced in April this year the abolition of 
 
China's long-term government monopoly of gold and the beginning to establish a gold market. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2001)
 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
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