The Treasurer’s Guide to Trade Finance

Hong Kong

Principal exports

Electrical machinery and appliances, textiles,

apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys,

plastics, precious stones and printed material.

Documentation

Imports & exports

ƒ Bill of lading, cargo release order,

commercial invoice, packing list and,

sometimes, a certificate of origin.

Licences

Imports

ƒ Dutiable commodities, such as tobacco and

strong alcohol, are licensed by the Customs

and Excise Department

(www.customs.gov.hk).

ƒ Where an import licence is required (rice,

some chemicals, textiles and to protect

public health, the environment or national

security), it is issued by the Director General

of Trade and Industry (www.stc.tid.gov.hk).

Exports

ƒ Some goods require licences for the

protection of public health or national

security, as do some textile products.

ƒ The Director General of Trade and Industry

issues export licences in Hong Kong.

Tariffs/Taxes

Imports

ƒ Excise tax applies to alcohol, tobacco,

hydrocarbon oils and methyl alcohol.

Exports

ƒ None.

Financing requirements for imports/

exports

ƒ None.

Prohibited items

ƒ Imports that are prohibited for reasons

such as national security, public health or

environmental protection.

ƒ Exports that are prohibited for reasons

such as national security, public health or

endangered animals.

Hong Kong imports exports

Trade information

Key trading partners

Imports by origin

China 43.2%

Japan 8.5%

EU 7.9%

Singapore 6.5%

USA 6.2%

Other 27.7%

Source: WTO, September 2012

Exports by destination

China 54.1%

EU 10.2%

USA 9.4%

Japan 3.8%

India 2.7%

Other 19.8%