G/LIC/N/2/HKG/17  
29 April 2021  
(21-3671) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF THE AGREEMENT1 
HONG KONG, CHINA 
The following notification dated 27  April 2021 , is being circulated at the request of the delegation of 
Hong Kong, China.  
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  Hong Kong, China  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Centralised Explosives Licensing and Management System (CELIMS)  
3 Date of Publication  1 April 2021  
4 Date of entry into force  1 April 2021  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  https://celims.cedd.gov.hk/  
 
6 Have you attached a copy 
of the regulation (PDF) to 
the Secretariat  [  ] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[X] No.  
7 Type of notification  [  ] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure; (please answer question 
8 to 14)  
 
[X] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document: G/LIC/N/3/HKG/24; ( please answer 
question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Please provide the HS codes and detailed descriptions of the 
products. In case of a long list , please attach the list as an Annex in 
MS WORD document.  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic: [  ]  
 
Non-Automatic: [  ]  
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life or health;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
11 Administrative body(ies) 
for submission of 
applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department: [  ]  
Address: [  ]  
Website: [  ]  
Telephone:  [  ]  
E-Mail: [  ]  
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  G/LIC/N/2/HKG/17  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: [  ]  
Address: [  ]  
Website: [  ]  
Telephone:  [  ]  
E-Mail: [  ]  
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure   
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages    
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: Introducing an online platform for licence 
application  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the official WTO 
languages)  
 
 The Civil Engineering and Development Department rolled out online 
application service under the Centralised Explosives Licensing and 
Management System (CELIMS) for approval of explosives in Hong 
Kong, China on 1 April 2021.   
 
CELIMS allows online submiss ion of applications; self -printing of 
permits/licences/certificates; and enquiry of online application 
status.  
 
After the rollout of the new online application service, the paper 
mode application is maintained. Applicants may continue to submit 
applicatio ns for permit/licence/certificate in paper form having 
regard to their operational needs.  
 
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