General Information on Import and Export

1. Import Cargo Collection
   1. Normal Procedures
      1. Consignee needs to bring along with the company stamp, bearer's identity card or passport, letter of authorization. Other documents may also be required such as letter of clarification of commodity, bank endorsement and business registration.
   2. Special Cargo
      1. Live animal and Plants
         • Animals and birds (mammals birds or reptiles) may not be brought into Hong Kong unless a Special Permit is obtained from the Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department prior to the arrival of the consignment
         • Endangered species include both live and dead endangered species and their parts and derivatives. A valid export licence and a valid import licence issued under CITES based local legislation are required for shipment. Live endangered species must also be covered by appropriate CITES Import/Possession Licences issued by Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department.
         • Plants and plant material are required both Phytosanitary Certificate from country of origin and Plant Import Licence issued by Agriculture Fisheries and Conservation Department.
           
           Please click here for information provided by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, HKSAR. 
            
      2. Human remains
         • Death Certificate (with cause of death) and Cremation or Embalming Certificate are required. All such documents must be written in English and Chinese. A special permit is required for Importation of human remains in coffin.
      3. Explosives
         • Permission to import must be obtained from the Commissioner of Mines 14 days prior to shipment.
         • Goods must be collected on the day of arrival, if not, security charge will be levied on the consignee at HK$70.75 per hour after three hours of the arrival of the flight.
         • Import licence and removal permits are required for delivery. 
      4. Arms and ammunition
         • Official permission from Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department is required.
         • An import licence is required for delivery.  
      5. Import licensing controlled commodities
         • Import of the following articles from any territory must be covered by a valid import licence:
           Strategic commodities
           Reserved commodities
           Frozen, chilled meat and poultry
           Pesticides
           Radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus
           Pharmaceutical products and medicine/vaccines
           Narcotics and drugs
           Textiles
           Ozone depleting substances
           Controlled chemicals
           
           Please click here for information provided by the Trade and Industry Department, HKSAR and click here for information provided by the Customs & Excise Department, HKSAR 
      6. Dutiable Commodities
         • Import permit from Customs & Excise is required.
           
           Please click here for information provided by the Customs & Excise Department, HKSAR
      7. Valuable cargo
         • Business hours for release:
           
           

           Monday to Friday	0800 - 2300
           Saturday	0800 - 2300
           Sunday and Public Holidays	Closed

      8. Bank consignment
         • No release if the bank is closed.
   3. Local Charges
      1. Terminal charge
         • HK$1.477 per kilo for bulk cargo
         • HK$1.311 per kilo for prepack cargo
         • HK$40.00 minimum charge
      2. Documentation charge
         • HK$13.00 per air waybill
      3. Storage charge (normal cargo)
         Commence at 00:01 hour on the date following the date of arrival.
         • Free for the first 48 hours, not including Sundays and Public holidays.
         • HK$2.20 per kilo per day, thereafter for the next 24 hour period or part thereof.
         • HK$40.00 minimum charge per consignment
      4. Storage charge (valuable)
         • HK$300.00 minimum charge, after the 4th and subsequent 24 hour periods.
      5. Dutiable commodities bond charge
         • HK$270.00 per shipment.
      6. Bank verification charge
         • HK$120.00 for bank at Hong Kong
         • HK$210.00 for bank at overseas
      7. House air waybill data reprocessing fee
         • HK$25.00 per house air waybill
      8. Eman inquiry services charge
         • HK$25.00 per house air waybill
           
            
2. Export Cargo Acceptance
   
   All carriers or airline operators in Hong Kong are required to follow the Regulated Agent Regime RAR programme under the Hong Kong Aviation Security Programme which is enforceable under the Aviation Security Ordinance. The objective of this programme is to prevent any unauthorized explosive or incendiary device from being carried on board passenger aircraft. The carriers or airline operators can only accept cargoes, courier and express parcels from a Regulated Agent, a Known Consignor or consignments that have been fulfilled the required security controls for carriage on board the passenger aircraft. For Aviation Security Charge, please refer to 2.2.5.
   
   1. Normal Procedure
      1. Shipper needs to approach our export service counter to complete a "Shipper's Letter of Instruction" form.
      2. Cargo needs to be delivered to the Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminal (HACTL) ST1 for acceptance and security check. After that, a Reception Check List (RCL) will be issued by HACTL to certify the weight of the cargo.
      3. An air waybill will be issued by us based on the weight and dimensions on the RCL.
      4. The weight or the dimensions of the goods will be used for calculating freight charges. 
      5. Additional cargo security requirement
         1. British Airways
            • A "Consignment Security Certificate" is required to be attached to every AWB/CBV/AV7 (CN38).
            • Live animal’s cage and Human remains must pass through X-ray screening before acceptance at terminal.
         2. Emirates Airline
            • A "Consignment Security Certificate" is required to be attached to every AWB/CBV/AV7 (CN38).
            • Live animal’s cage and Human remains must pass through X-ray screening before acceptance at terminal.
         3. Philippine Airlines 
            •  Cargoes from "Unknown Shipper" are required to hold 24 hours.
   2. Local Charges
      1. Terminal charge
         • HK$1.477 per kilo for bulk cargo
         • HK$1.311 per kilo for prepack cargo
         • HK$40.00 minimum charge
      2. Documentation charge
         • HK$13.00 per air waybill
      3. Aviation security charge
         1. Normal cargo
            • Delcare upon acceptance
              HK$0.50 per kilo
              HK$20.00 per consignment
            • Non-declare upon acceptance under airline arrangement
              HK$0.70 per kilo
              HK$20.00 minimum
              HK$30.00 flat fee to carrier per air waybill
               
         2. Strong room valuable cargo (effective from 22rd Nov 2001)
            • Screening before acceptance
              HK$0.50 per kilo
              HK$250.00 minimum per air waybill
            • Screening after acceptance
              HK$0.70 per kilo
              HK$280.00 minimum per air waybill 
      4.  Insurance charge
         • British Airways HK$1.20 per kilo by chargeable weight
      5. Dutiable commodities bond charge
         • HK$270.00 per shipment
      6. Countersign air waybill
         • HK$75.00
            
      7. Amendment fee per master air waybill
         • HK$90.00 for no change in airport of destination
         • HK$140.00 for change in airport of destination
      8. Return shipment
         • HK$390.00 plus expenses of 15%
      9.  Proof of delivery in writing
         • HK$120.00
      10. House air waybill data reprocessing fee
          • HK$25.00 per house air waybill
      11. Certify true copy
          1. HK$75.00 per air waybill
      12. Dangerous goods handling fee
          • HK$312.00 per air waybill
      13. Security charge
          • El Al Israel Airlines
            HK$1.00 per chargeable weight
          • CA/CZ/MU/MF
            HK$0.50 (to China) per chargeable weight
            HK$1.00 (to other country) per chargeable weight
          • Polar Air Cargo
            HK$1.00 per chargeable weight
          • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
            HK$1.20 per chargeable weight
      14. Valuable charge
          • Air China
            HK$240.00 per air waybill
          • China Southern Airlines
            HK$250.00 per air waybill
          • China Eastern Airlines
            HK$250.00 per air waybill
          • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
            HK$75.00 per house air waybill
      15. Eman inquiry services charge
          • HK$25.00 per house air waybill
   3. Export Licensing Controlled Commoditie
      1. Export licences are required for the following commodities
         • Strategic commodities
         • Reserved commodities
         • Pesticides
         • Pharmaceutical products and medicine
         • Textiles
         • Ozone depleting substances
         • Chemical Precursors
         • Narcotics and drugs
         • Controlled chemicals
           
           Please click here for information provided by the Trade and Industry Department, HKSAR. 
   4. Locations for Cargo Acceptance at Super Terminal I
      1. Mini shipment handling centre (Ground floor)
         • For cargo with dimensions W120cm x H80cm
      2. Bulk cargo acceptance point (First floor)
         • For cargo exceeding the limitation for mini shipment centre
      3. Strong room (Ground floor at Express Centre)
         • For valuable cargo
   5. Special Cargo
      1. Live animal
         • Call our Export Service Counter for air waybill reservation
         • Make booking with the relevant carrier:
           
           

           Carrier	Tel	Fax
           Air China	2753 1911	2714 0551
           British Airways	2753 1911	2714 0551
           China Eastern Airlines	2753 1911	2714 0551
           China Southern Airlines	2753 1911	2714 0551
           El Al Israel Airlines	2866 8050	2866 8082
           Evergreen Int'l Airlines	2382 7070	2382 7700
           Garuda Indonesia	2769 6681	2716 4532
           Philippine Airlines	2753 1911	2714 0551
           Polar Air Cargo	3403 1807	2756 4085
           SriLankan Airlines	2521 1807	2801 5600

         • Refer to IATA Live Animal Regulations for a suitable container
         • The door of the cage must be locked
         • Produce all relevant documents to us for shipping, such as health certificate and import permit issued by A and F.
         • Special requirement from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
         • We cannot accept kennels for dogs and cats with doors manufactured of any other material than metal, For wooden kennels must fix a strong metal weldmesh within a strong door frame.
   6. Dangerous Goods Consignments
      1. Shipment must comply with IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations
      2. Only the following carriers can carry dangerous goods:
         • Air China
         • Atlas Air
         • British Airways
         • China Eastern Airlines
         • El Al Israel Airlines
         • Emirates
         • Evergreen International Airline Inc
         • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
         • Philippine Airlines
         • Polar Air
         • SriLankan Airlines
      3. Booking must be made for explosive consignments before acceptance for carriage.
   7. Human Remains Consignments
      1. Refer to The Air Cargo Tariff (TACT), section 7.3 for checking country regulations
      2. Death certificate and Cremation or Embalming certificate are required
      3. Booking must be made before acceptance for carriage
   8. Baggage Shipped As Cargo
      1. Definitions
         Baggage shipped as cargo shall consist only of personal clothing and personal articles (including portable musical instruments, portable typewriters and portable sports equipments but excluding machinery, machines or their spare parts, money, securities, jewellery, watches, plate and plate ware, furs, films, cameras, tickets, documents, liquor, perfumes and articles of household furnishing, merchandise and saleman samples.)
      2. Conditions
         • A valid airline ticket must be available at the time of shipping.
         • Baggage will only be carried between the same airports for which the passenger is travelling.
         • Baggage has to be delivered to us for shipping not later then the date of the passenger's departure. 
         • It shall be within the discretion of the airline on which flight the baggage is carried. 
         • No dangerous goods will be accepted for shipping as baggage
      3. Airline Requirements
         (a) Philippine Airlines
         • Passenger is required to fill in a packing list form for baggage to Iloilo, Davao and Zamboanga.
      4. Country Requirements
         (a) United Kingdom (GB)
         • Passengers are required to sign Customs Declaration Form C.3 for the baggage to GB. The form must accompany the baggage.