144 
FOREIGN TRADE ZONES 
THE FREE PORT OF HANGO, FINLAND 
[From James R. Wilkinson, American consul, Helsingiors, Finland} 
No free port functioning in Finland.—A free port was established in 
Hango in 1921, but it was taken over by the Government before it 
was quite completed and is now operated as an ordinary port. A 
summary of the history of the Hango free port is embodied in the fol- 
lowing paragraphs. 
Free port agitation due to future Russian trade.—During 1920 certain 
Finnish business men were seized with the notion that great trade 
expansion was impending in Russia and that the most natural trade 
route between Petrogad and the western world would be the railroad 
line between that city and Hango Finland. Accordingly, the idea of 
a free port in the latter city was conceived and was agitated until the 
Finnish Government passed a law giving the necessary powers for 
the establishment of free ports. 
THE FREE PORT LAW 
Law passed. —There being no law in Finland providing for free zone 
or free port activities, it was of course necessary to pass one. Accord: 
ingly, a law providing for free ports was enacted on March 31, 1921 
The main provisions of the law are as follows: 
Free ports may be established in appropriate places—The law pro- 
vides that free ports and free warehouses may be established in any 
appropriate place in the country under certain conditions duly set forth. 
Free port defined. —A free port is defined as a zone in which goods 
may be cleared, warehoused, repacked, manufactured, and otherwise 
handled without regular customs procedure. A free warehouse is 
defined as a place in which goods may be handled as in the case of 8 
free port. 
State and Finnish citizens have right to establish.—Section 2 of the 
law provides that the right to establish and operate a free port if 
vested in the State, which may delegate its right to municipalities; 
corporations, and cooperative societies the boards of directors of which 
are Finnish citizens. A proper application must be submitted to the 
Government and the opinion of the community concerned must be 
heard. 
Status of free port with regard to ordinary trade.—To all intents and 
purposes goods going to or coming from the free port have the same 
status as goods exported from or imported into Finland. 
State to provide regulations for free ports. —Section 4 of the law gives 
the Government the right to promulgate the regulations necessary 
for operating free ports. These regulations may pertain to custom® 
procedure, tariffs, safety, and other matters. It also provides that 
tariffs shall be no higher than what the upkeep, expansion, and 2 
moderate profit necessitates.