Article 18 A representative office should lay the Registration Permit of Resident Representative Office of Foreign Enterprise in China (hereinafter referred to as registration permit) issued by the registration authority in the eye-catching place of its residency site.

Article 19 Any unit and individual shall not forge, alter, lease, lend or transfer the registration permit and the chief representative and representative cards (hereinafter referred to as representative card).

In case the registration permit or representative card is lost or damaged, the representative office should declare its invalidation on the designated media and apply for another registration permit or representative card.

In case the registration authority makes the decision on approval of registration of alteration, cancellation of registration, cancellation of alteration registration, or revocation of registration permit, the original registration permit, or the chief representative and representative card issued by the authority shall be automatically invalid.

Article 20 For the establishment or alteration of its representative office, a foreign enterprise should announce it to the public on the media designated by the registration authority.

In case the establishment or revocation registration of a representative office shall be annulled or cancelled by law, it shall be announced by the registration authority to the public.

Article 21 For the acts of a representative office suspected of violating the regulations, the registration authority may by law execute the following duties:

(1)to investigate and know about information from related units and individuals;

(2)to consult, copy, seal up and seize contracts, notes, accounting books and other materials connected with illegal acts;

(3)to seal up and seize the tools, equipment, raw materials, products (commodities) specially for illegal acts; and

(4)to investigate the accounts and accounting voucher, accounting books and statement of account related to deposits of the representative office engaging in illegal acts.

Chapter III Registration of Establishment

Article 22 An application shall be made to the registration authority if a representative office is established.

Article 23 Applying for the establishment of a representative office, a foreign enterprise should submit to the registration authority the following documents and materials:

(1)application for registration of establishment of representative office;

(2)domicile certification of the foreign enterprise and business license valid for more than two years;

(3)articles of associations or organization agreement of the foreign enterprise;

(4)commission documents issued by the foreign enterprise to chief representative and representative;

(5)identification papers and resumes of chief representative and representative;

(6)certificate of capital credit issued by financial institution having business ties with the foreign enterprise; and

(7)the certification for the lawful right to use the residency site of the representative office.

In case laws, administrative regulations or the State Council provides that the establishment of a representative office shall be approved, a foreign enterprise should file an application for registration of establishment to the registration authority within 90 days upon being approved and submit related approval documents.

In case the international treaties and agreements signed or joined by China provide that a representative office engaging in profit-making activities shall be established, corresponding documents shall be also submitted in accordance with the provisions of laws, administrative regulations or the State Council.

Article 24 The registration authority should make a decision on whether or not to approve registration of establishment within 15 days upon accepting application and may solicit opinions of related departments when necessary prior to the decision; in case an approval is made, it should grant to the applicant the registration certificate and representative card within five days upon making the decision; in case no approval is made, it should issue to the applicant the registration rejection notice within five days upon making the decision and give the reason for not granting registration.

The issuing date of registration certificate shall be the establishment date of a representative office.

Article 25 A representative office, chief representative or representative holds the registration certificate and representative card to apply for handling related formalities of residency, employment, tax paying and foreign exchange registration.

Chapter IV Registration of Alteration

Article 26 A foreign enterprise should file an application to the registration authority for the registration of alteration if an alteration of registration of its representative office occurs.

Article 27 In case alteration of registration arises, an application for registration of alteration should be filed within 60 days upon the alteration of registration.

In case registration of alteration shall be approved prior to registration in accordance with the provisions of laws, administrative regulations or the State Council, an application for the registration of alteration should be filed within 30 days upon being approved.

Article 28 In case its representative office continues to conduct business activities after the expiration of residency, a foreign enterprise should file an application for registration of alteration to the registration authority within 60 days prior to the expiration of residency.

Article 29 For the application for the registration of alteration of a representative office, the application for registration of alteration and related documents as the SAIC prescribed should be submitted.

In case registration items of alteration shall be approved prior to registration in accordance with the provisions of laws, administrative regulations or the State Council, related approval documents should be also submitted.

Article 30 The registration authority should make the decision on whether or not to approve the registration of alteration within 10 days upon accepting application. In case a decision on approving registration of alteration is made, the registration certificate and representative card should be renewed within five days upon the decision; in case no decision on registration of alteration is made, the notice of rejecting registration of alteration should be issued to the applicant within five days upon the decision with the reason for not approving registration of alteration given.