G/LIC/N/2/HKG/24  
 
6 July 2023 
(23-4590) Page: 1/3 
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 communication  dated 30 June 2023, 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  Phase 2 of Trade Single Window (TSW)  
3 Date of Publication  15 May 2023  
4 Date of entry into force  15 May 2023  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  TSW website:  https://www.tradesinglewindow.hk/   
Press release:  
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202305/15/P2023051500268.
htm  
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/procedure2; (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/26 ; (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 and health; protect 
environment;  
(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.)  
 
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.  
2 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to  any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified for the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/HKG/24  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
(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: [ ]  
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 o f 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: Providing a one -stop electronic platform for 
submission of trade document s for licence applications . 
 
16  Please elaborate the changes 
in detail (in one of the WTO 
official languages)  Phase 2 of the TSW  was launched on 15 May 2023. It covers the 
following 14 types of trade documents initially:  
 
(i) Licence to Export/Re -export for Endangered Species  
(ii) Licence to Import for Endangered Species  
(iii) Permit for Import of Mammals from the Mainland and Animal 
Products  
(iv) Re-export Certificate for Species of non -Convention on 
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and 
Flora or not yet Controlled under the Protection of 
Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap. 
586)  
(v) Special Permit fo r Import of Animals and Birds from Overseas  
(vi) Special Permit for Import of Dogs and Cats from Overseas  
(vii) Special Permit for Import of Food/Pet Reptiles from Overseas  G/LIC/N/2/HKG/24  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
(viii)  Food Inspection Certificate  
(ix) Health Certificate for Foods of Animal Origin  
(x) Import Licence for F rozen/Chilled Meat or Poultry  
(xi) Permission for Import of Milk and Milk 
Beverage/Cream/Frozen Confections  
(xii) Permission for Import of Eggs  
(xiii)  Permission for Import of Game, Meat and Poultry  
(xiv)  Permission for Import of Meat or Poultry for the Purpose of 
Re-export  
 
It is the Government 's plan to further extend the TSW  to cover 
another 14 types of trade documents (see the list annexed to the 
press release provided in Box 5 above for these 14 types of trade 
documents).  
 
The 14 types of trade documents covered in Phase 1 of the TSW 
(first rolled out in December 2018 and c ould be found at 
https://www.tradesinglewindow.hk/portal/en/useful_information/an
nex_g.html ) are in full service.  
 
The use of the services provided by Phase 1 and Ph ase 2 of the TSW 
is voluntary, and trade members may continue to use existing 
channels provided by relevant government departments for 
submitting trade documents.  
__________