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Commerce and Industry
Business Liaison Groups foster dialogue between the government and major business sectors to resolve regulatory and licensing matters at the operational level. A business consultation e-platform helps businesses to access information on proposed regulations, administrative measures and procedures which may affect them, and to offer their comments.
Twenty-nine government bureaus and departments involved in licensing services for businesses take part in the government's 'Be the Smart Regulator' Programme to improve the efficiency, transparency and business-friendliness of the licensing work. A total of 145 measures to enhance licensing services were introduced in 2019-20.
Trade Documentation
As a free port, Hong Kong maintains optimal import and export documentation requirements to facilitate trade. Most products do not need licences to enter or leave the territory. Licences. are required mainly to fulfil Hong Kong's international obligations; to protect public health, safety, the environment and intellectual property rights; and to ensure the territory's continued access to advanced technologies and high-tech products. An origin certification system is in place to facilitate exports to external markets.
Road Cargo System
The Customs and Excise Department's Road Cargo System facilitates customs clearance of road cargo through prior risk-profiling. Under the system, a shipper or his agent submits key cargo information electronically before the consignment is imported to, or exported from, Hong Kong. As a result, cross-boundary goods vehicles, except those selected for inspection, may go through seamless customs clearance at land boundary control points.
Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme and Single E-lock Scheme
The Intermodal Transhipment Facilitation Scheme (ITFS) seeks to simplify customs clearance procedures for air-land and sea-land intermodal transhipment cargo. Enrolment is voluntary. Participating enterprises convey their transhipment cargo using goods vehicles installed with electronic locks and Global Positioning System devices recognised by the department. The cargo normally undergoes inspection only once, if selected at all, when entering or leaving Hong Kong.
The Single E-lock Scheme (SELS) seeks to streamline customs clearance procedures by connecting the ITFS to a speedy clearance system operated by Mainland customs. Mutually recognised electronic locks are used to minimise duplicate inspections of the same consignment at the boundary. Since May, the number of clearance points under the SELS in Guangdong Province has increased to 52, covering all nine Mainland municipalities in the Greater Bay Area.
Free Trade Agreement Transhipment Facilitation Scheme
The Free Trade Agreement Transhipment Facilitation Scheme allows consignments passing through Hong Kong to be charged preferential tariffs under FTAs signed between the Mainland and her trading partners. The department supervises such consignments and issues certificates
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