G/LIC/N/2/HKG/12  
 
7 March 2019  
(19-1407) Page:  1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
 AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF  THE AGREEMENT1 
HONG KONG, CHINA 
 The following notification, dated 6 March 2019 , 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 1 of Trade Single Window (TSW)  
 
3 Date  of Publication  28/12/2018  
4 Date of entry into force  28/12/2018  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  TSW website:  
https://www2.tradesinglewindow.hk/portal/en/index.html   
Press Release:  
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201812/28/P2018122800258.
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/22 ;  ( 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. CI TES, 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 ; 
                                                
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also complete d its notific ation 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/12  
 
- 2 - 
 
   Category  Notification details  
(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 on e 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: Providing an alternative platform for submission of 
trade documents for licence applications  (please specify).  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail  (in one of 
the official WTO languages)  
 
 Phase 1 of TSW was launched on 28 December 2018 to provide a 
voluntary e -option for the trade to lodge import and export trade 
documents for specific types of commodities through a single 
electronic platform.  It initially covers the following five types of 
import and export trade documents:   
(i) Import and Export Permit for Radiocommunications 
Transmitting Apparatus  
(ii) Transhipment Notification for Radiocommunications 
Transmitting Apparatus  
(iii) Import/Export Licence for Pesticides  
(iv) Licence for Scheduled Chemicals  
(v) Licence for Ozone Depleting Substances  
 
Phase 1 is aimed to be progressively extended to cover a total of 
some 13 types of trade documents.   
 
 
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