As a free port, the HKSAR maintains minimal import and export documentation requirements. Most products do not need licences to enter or leave Hong Kong. Licences or notifications are only required if the HKSAR needs to fulfil its international obligations, to protect public health, safety, environment, or intellectual property rights, or to ensure Hong Kong's unrestricted access to high technologies and hi-tech products. Products that require import or export licences include textiles and clothing, strategic commodities, rice, chilled or frozen meat and poultry, pharmaceutical products and medicines, pesticides, radioactive substances and irradiating apparatus, left-hand-drive vehicles, ozone-depleting substances, and optical disc mastering and replication equipment.

    The HKSAR maintains a certification of origin system to facilitate Hong Kong exports to overseas markets. The Trade and Industry Department administers this system and issues certificates of origin. In addition, the Government has designated five organisations to issue certificates of origin — the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Indian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce.

Electronic Data Interchange

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the electronic transfer of data from one computer system to another, using agreed standards. The Government has been promoting the use of EDI in the trading community, not only to increase the competitiveness of firms but also to maintain Hong Kong's position as a leading trade centre. In 1992, the Government decided to make the use of EDI compulsory for six official trade-related transactions, and granted Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited (Tradelink) an exclusive right to provide the related front-end service on its behalf until December 31, 2003. The Government intends to appoint additional service providers upon the expiry of Tradelink's franchise.

    The EDI service for trade-related transactions was launched in 1997. By 2002, the Government had implemented EDI services for five key documents, i.e. restrained textiles export licence, trade declaration, production notification, certificate of origin and dutiable commodities permits. The EDI services for processing of cargo manifests (excluding the road mode of transport) and notifications under the Textiles Trader Registration Scheme are scheduled for implementation in early 2003. The feasibility study on EDI services for processing road cargo manifests was completed in June 2002.